Madras HC issues notice to Jayalalithaa on plea challenging appointment of CIC

The Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered issue of notice to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on a petition challenging appointment of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners. Justice M M Sundresh ordered issue of notice to the Chief Minister on a petition by RS Bharathi, a DMK worker. The court also ordered issue of notice to the Chief Secretary returnable by eight weeks. Bharathi contended that the leader of the opposition has to be consulted before the appointment of CIC and two Information Commissioners. The appointment was not done with due consultation process.

As per the norms, the CIC and Information Commissioners are appointed by a three-member committee consisting Chief Minister, opposition leader of the assembly and a minister nominated by the Chief Minister. He submitted that due consultation process was not adopted in the appointment of former DGP Ramanujam as CIC and Murugan and Dhakshinamoorthy as Information Commissioners and sought to declare the appointments as null and void.