New SICs restrained from assuming office.

Express News Service; Friday, March 11, 2011,

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has restrained the three newly appointed Information Commissioners (ICs) to the TN State Information Commission, from assuming office. The First Bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam granted the injunction while passing interim orders on a public interest writ petition from advocate S Vijayalakshmi of Periyar Nagar on Thursday.

When the matter came up today, Advocate-General (AG) PS Raman told the bench that the decision taken to appoint PA Ramesh, C Manoharan and A Arumuga Nainar as the ICs had been forwarded to the Election Commission (EC) of India for ascertaining as to whether they could assume office or wait for a reply.

Passing interim order, the bench made it clear that irrespective of the decision that might be taken by the EC, the three persons would not assume office till the disposal of the writ petition, as per the undertaking given by the AG today. Ordering notice to the respondents, the bench posted the matter for hearing on March 15. In her peititon, Vijayalakshmi submitted that the procedure prescribed in Sec 15(3) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act had not been followed. Leader of Opposition J Jayalalithaa had been deliberately sidelined and the appointments had been made without her mandatory recommendation, petitioner contended.