Draft:Heeralal Samariya

Heeralal Samariya: Chief Information Commissioner

Heeralal Samariya, a distinguished bureaucrat, was sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of India in November 2023. His appointment is particularly historic, as he is the first Dalit to hold this position. He was born on September 14, 1960, in the village of Pahadi in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with honors from Rajasthan University.

• • Professional Career:**

Samariya is a 1985-batch IAS officer from the Telangana cadre. Over his career, he has served in various significant roles: - Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment - Collector in Karimnagar and Guntur districts - Commissioner in the Commercial Tax Department (Telangana) - Commissioner of the Environment Department (Andhra Pradesh) - Joint Secretary, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

He has also led organizations such as the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Distribution Company and Transmission Corporation. His vast experience in governance and administration paved the way for his role at the Central Information Commission.

• • Role as CIC:**

The Central Information Commission was established under the Right to Information Act (RTI) of 2005, and Samariya's appointment followed the conclusion of YK Sinha's term as CIC. At the time of his appointment, there were several vacancies in the Commission, which the Supreme Court highlighted, urging swift action to ensure the RTI Act's effectiveness. Samariya now oversees crucial functions like adjudicating second appeals, issuing directives, and ensuring compliance with the RTI Act across various institutions.

• • Family and Personal Life:**

Samariya comes from a humble background and hails from a remote part of Rajasthan. His son, Piyush Samariya, has followed in his footsteps and is also an IAS officer.

His career reflects his commitment to public service and dedication to transparency and accountability in governance.

Sources: - [News24](https://www.news24online.com) - [Free Press Journal](https://www.freepressjournal.in)