The Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered notice to the State government on a petition filed by the DMK, challenging the appointment of IAS officer Mohan Pyare as the Commissioner of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).
A Bench, comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose, posted the matter to January 29 for further hearing.
The petition was filed by the DMK’s organising secretary, R.S. Bharathi.
When the case came up for hearing, senior counsel P. Wilson, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, said that the State Vigilance Commission was an institution of integrity, and pointed out that the Supreme Court had held that the office of the Vigilance Commissioner should be insulated from the Executive.
He said the G.O. of 1965, which created the post, stated that the Commissioner was to be appointed by the Governor for a fixed tenure of five years. The appointment of Mohan Pyare went against the spirit of that G.O., he contended.
Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that he would find out from the government why the previous State Vigilance Commissioner was transferred and why the new appointee was not given a fixed tenure. After hearing both sides, the Bench directed the parties concerned to file their counter affidavits by January 24.
