*Representational Picture of Bimal Julka credit northeasttoday.com

Even though the Narendra Modi government has appointed Bimal Julka as Chief Information Commissioner, five posts of Information Commissioner remain vacant.

In fact, Central Information Commission, transparency watchdog, has been functioning without a chief after Sudhir Bhargava retired on January 11. Julka,1979 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, who is former Information and Broadcasting Secretary, was already serving as Information Commissioner. 

More, even though Julka was appointed, the CIC continues to be at a low strength of six information commissioners, against the sanctioned strength of 11 (including the CIC). This means Julka will await appointments of five more ICs.  

President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Julka as the CIC in the Central Information Commission at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, it said.

The transparency watchdog has been functioning without a chief after Sudhir Bhargava retired on January 11 and is at a reduced strength of six information commissioners, against the sanctioned strength of 11 (including the CIC).

There is a vacancy of five more information commissioners at the commission after Julka's appointment as the CIC. 

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