Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has appointed retired IAS officer S. Natarajan as the State Chief Information Commissioner to head the Tamil Nadu Information Commission. The appointments were announced on October 30, 2026, filling vacancies in the body responsible for hearing appeals and complaints under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. Source
Along with Natarajan, the government has appointed S. Mahalakshmi, T.K. Shabeer, C.B. Meena and P. Mahalingam as State Information Commissioners. According to the supplied information, Mahalingam is a journalist, making his appointment the first of its kind for the commission.
The appointments were notified by the state government and made under Section 15(3) of the RTI Act, 2005. The five appointees will hold office for three years from the date they assume charge or until they attain the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
Who Is S. Natarajan?
S. Natarajan is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre who entered the IAS through induction from the State Civil Service. He belongs to the 2005 batch and has more than two decades of experience in public administration.
According to his available service profile, Natarajan holds an M.Sc. and an M.Tech. degree. He was born on March 6, 1964, and served in administrative roles in the Tamil Nadu government before his retirement.
One of his notable assignments was as Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board in Chennai. His appointment as State Chief Information Commissioner brings his administrative experience to an institution that plays an important role in ensuring transparency and accountability in government.
The available officer records identify him as a 2005-batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer inducted from the State Civil Service, with his last recorded posting as Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board.
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Four State Information Commissioners Appointed
Alongside Natarajan’s appointment, the Tamil Nadu government has filled four State Information Commissioner positions.
S. Mahalakshmi, T.K. Shabeer, C.B. Meena and P. Mahalingam have been appointed to the commission. Mahalingam’s appointment is notable because he is a journalist, bringing a media background to a body whose work centres on access to information and government accountability.
The State Information Commission hears appeals and complaints from people who have been denied access to information under the RTI Act. Filling vacancies is important for the commission’s ability to process cases and carry out its statutory responsibilities.
What Is the Tenure of the Information Commissioners?
The State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners will serve for three years from the date they assume office or until they reach the age of 65, whichever occurs first.
Their appointments fall under Section 15(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Their service conditions are governed by the RTI Act and the Right to Information Rules, 2019. Source
The commission has a key role in implementing the RTI framework at the state level by adjudicating appeals and complaints relating to access to public information. The appointment of a new chief and four commissioners is expected to help address vacancies in the institution.
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