HC stays appointment of Vinson M Paul as CIC
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Kochi: The High Court Wednesday stayed the appointment of former DGP Vinson M Paul as Chief Information Commissioner by the UDF government in the state.
The court passed the order on a petition challenging recommendations made by the committee for appointment of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners on the ground that no proecedure was followed by the panel.
The appointment of five other commissioners has also been stayed.
Following the petition, Justice Mohammed Mustaq had directed the government to produce the file leading to recommendations of the committee under Section 15(3) of RTI Act of Kerala.
Petitioner S Somanathan Pillai alleged that the committee followed no procedure and recommended personnel without assessing the merit of candidates and on political considerations and whims and fancies.
The selection panel, comprising Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Industry Minister P K Kunhalikutty and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, had met in February to shortlist the CIC and five Information Commissioners.
The name of Paul was recommended to the Governor with dissent from Achuthanandan.