The Supreme Court on Monday sought explanation from the Centre for taking a decision ignoring recommendation of the selection committee in the appointment of woman IPS officer Archana Ramasundram as additional director of the CBI. The appointment had created controversy with the BJP and the Congress-led UPA government entering into a verbal duel on the issue.

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Even, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had expressed its anguish over her appointment saying the government had ignored the selection committee's recommendation to appoint West Bengal cadre officer RK Pachnanda for the same post.

Issuing notices to ministry of home, department of personnel and training, Central Vigillance Commission and Ramasundaram, a bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha sought their response by May 9.

The bench was hearing a PIL, filed by journalist Vineet Narayan, which alleged that the Centre has bypassed the statutory committee's recommendation to appoint Pachnanda to the post.

"The unanimous recommendation of the high powered statutory committee formed under the provision of Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act for appointing Pachnanda to the post was turned down by the government. Instead, it appointed a person (Ramasundaram) whose name was not recommended by the committee," the PIL said while describing the government act as "arbitrary".

Seeking quashing of Ramasundaram's appointment, the petitioner said there was clear violation of rules as Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by the prime minister had ignored a selection committee recommendation to appoint Pachnanda.

Earlier between 1999-2006, Ramasundaram had served the CBI as deputy inspector general and later as its first woman joint director she handled various cases pertaining to economic offences, including the Telgi stamp scam.

Her name was reportedly recommended by CBI director Ranjit Sinha to the government.