SC Stays CIC’s Direction on Appointment of Judges

The Supreme Court has stayed the Central Information Commission’s direction which asked it to make public information related with appointment of three judges in the apex court superseding senior judges.

Besides, it stayed another CIC order directing it to disclose communication between Chief Justice of India and Justice R Raghupathy of Madhras High Court on alleged interference by a union minister in a sub-judice case.

Attorney General GE Vahanvati mentioned the SLP filed by the apex court against the CIC’s direction before a bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and Deepak Verma which issued notice to the RTI applicant on whose plea the CIC had passed the diection.

The apex court has asked for the reply in three weeks time and granted another two weeks for submitting rejoinder.

Vanavati, along with Advocate Devadatt Kamat, sought stay on the CIC’s direction arguing that there arise several significant questions of law in the matter which demand urgent hearing.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who is appearing for RTI applicant S C Aggrawal, was present in the court when the matter came up.

It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court had on December 1 moved before itself a petition challenging the order of CIC which had directed it to divulge information relating to appointment of judges to the apex court and communication between Chief Justice of India and Justice Raghupathy.