HC stays appointment of Board chairperson

The High Court on Tuesday stayed the appointment made by the State government to the post of chairperson, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

Hearing a petition filed by Srirame Gowda, former Mayor, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna has ordered notice to the Chief Minister, Minister for Environment, Principal Secretary and KSPCB with a direction to continue the incumbent chairman (Sadashivaiah) in the said post till further orders.

The petitioner in his submission has stated that the appointment has been made against the suggestion of the Supreme Court-appointed M G K Menon Committee, which specifies qualification for the appointment of the chairperson to the State Pollution Control Boards.

“Accordingly, the boards, in order to appoint chairperson, have to constitute State boards in accordance with Section 4 (2) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and the Central Pollution Control Board (Qualifications and other Terms and Conditions of Service of Chairman) Rules, 2011,” the petition said.

Stating that the rules fix certain qualifications to appoint chairperson, the counsel for the petitioner Vardhaman Gunjal submitted that as per the rules, the chairperson of the board should have a degree in Master of Science in Environment or have a degree in engineering in a discipline related to environment from any recognised university.

As regards the appointment of R Sridharan, Secretary, Forest Ecology and Environment, as chairperson, KSPCB, the Supreme Court advisory committee has clearly stated that the chairman appointed should not be a government official and any appointment to the post should be full-time.

The Bench stayed the appointment of the new chairperson and directed that the incumbent chairperson would be continued with till further orders.