Constitutional & Statutory Bodies of Rajasthan

[!IMPORTANT] Rajasthan has several key independent bodies that ensure accountability, fairness and good governance. These are established either by the Constitution (constitutional bodies) or by Acts of Legislature (statutory bodies).

1. Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)

• Constitutional Basis: Articles 315–323 of the Constitution of India (Part XIV).
• Established: Originally notified on 16 August 1949. It formally started functioning on 22 December 1949.
• Historical Background: Before the merger, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Bikaner had their own Public Service Commissions.
• Headquarters: Initially in Jaipur; later shifted to Ajmer on the recommendation of the Satyanarayan Rao Committee (1958).
• Structure: 1 Chairman + 7 Members = 8 total members (fixed since 2011).
• Current Chairman: Utkal Ranjan Sahoo (IPS 1988), appointed in June 2025.
• Appointment: By the Governor of Rajasthan.
• Tenure: 6 years or up to 62 years of age, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: Only by the President of India (Article 317) after an inquiry by the Supreme Court on grounds of misbehaviour.

RPSC Constitutional Landscape (Articles 315-323)

Significant Chairmen

2. Rajasthan Lokayukta

• Established by: Rajasthan Lokayukta and Up-Lokayuktas Act, 1973.
• Current Lokayukta: Justice Pratap Krishna Lohra (since Feb 2021).
• Appointment: Appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, Chief Justice of Rajasthan HC and the Leader of Opposition.
• Tenure: 5 years or up to 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
• Jurisdiction: Investigates corruption and maladministration. CM and RPSC Chairman are outside its jurisdiction.
• First Lokayukta: Justice I.D. Dua.

3. Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission (RSHRC)

• Established: 18 January 1999 (Functioning since March 2000).
• Composition: 1 Chairperson + 2 Members.
• Current Chairperson: Justice Gangaram Mulchandani (appointed June 2024).
• First Chairperson: Justice Kanta Bhatnagar.
• Tenure: 3 years or 70 years of age (as per 2019 amendment).

4. Rajasthan State Election Commission (RSEC)

• Constitutional Basis: Article 243K (Panchayats) and Article 243ZA (Municipalities).
• Established: July 1994.
• Function: Supervision, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of all elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
• Commissioner: Shri Rajeshwar Singh (IAS Retired), appointed in September 2025 succeeding Madhukar Gupta.
• First Commissioner: Amar Singh Rathore.
• Tenure: 5 years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
• Appointment: By the Governor.

5. State Finance Commission (SFC)

• Constitutional Basis: Article 243-I (Panchayats) and Article 243-Y (Municipalities).
• Function: Reviews the financial position of local bodies and recommends the distribution of net proceeds of taxes between the State and local bodies.
• 6th SFC: Headed by Pradyuman Singh. Members included Lakshman Singh Rawat and Ashok Lahoti.
• Historical commissions:
  1. K.K. Goyal (1995-2000)
  2. Hiralal Devpura (2000-2005)
  3. Manik Chand Surana (2005-2010)
  4. B.D. Kalla (2011-2015)
  5. Jyoti Kiran (2015-2020)
  6. Pradyuman Singh (2021-2025)

6. Rajasthan State Information Commission (SIC)

• Established: April 18, 2006 under the RTI Act, 2005.
• Current Chief Information Commissioner (CIC): Mohan Lal Lather (IPS), appointed July 2024.
• First CIC: M.D. Kaurani.
• Structure: 1 Chief Information Commissioner + up to 10 Information Commissioners.
• Tenure: As prescribed by the Central Government (currently 3 years) or 65 years of age.

7. Other Important Bodies

[!NOTE] An RPSC member is ineligible for further government employment after tenure (except for PSC Chairman posts) under Article 319.