SC notice to Centre on CVC, CIC & Lokpal

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Union government on a plea for treating the leader of the opposition as the leader of the single largest party for the purposes of appointment of CBI director, Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Central Information Commission.

The top court also sought a response from the government on the petition challenging the validity of the amendment granting "blanket protection" to public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul sought a response from the Centre on a petition filed by 'Youth for Equality'.

The court, however, refused to consider the plea for making a direction to ensure that appointment to the post of CBI director, the CVC, the CIC and the Lokpal should be taken by unanimous vote by the appointing committee.

The PIL was filed by advocate Pooja Dhar and argued by advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan.

The petitioner contended for a clean administration and independent functioning of the high offices, the provision related to the leader of opposition should be interpreted to mean as the leader of the single largest party in opposition. Notably, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had repeatedly declined to attend meeting for appointment of Lokpal.

The court agreed to examine another plea, which sought a direction to quash Section 17A brought into an amendment into the Prevention of Corruption Act, this year stating no public officer would be probed for his acts in discharge of his duties without prior approval of the government.

The petitioner called it "discriminatory, manifestly arbitrary and ultra vires Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution".