By IANS,
Mumbai : The Bombay High Court Thursday directed Maharashtra to file an affidavit by Dec 17 in response to a petition challenging the appointment of State Chief Information Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad, an activist said here.
Gaikwad was appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) in June this year after he retired as the chief secretary of Maharashtra.
The petition by right to information (RTI) activists Anil Galgali, Mohammed Afzal, Sulman Bhiamani, Krishnraj Rao and G.R. Vora alleged that Gaikwad used his influence to grab the position.
The petition alleged that as chief secretary, Gaikwad was the de facto appointing authority and that he used his position to grab the post.
Gaikwad did not look into applications he received for the CIC position, said one of the petitioners, Anil Galgali.