: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday upheld the appointment of Sony Thengamom as State Information Commissioner.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A.M.Shaffique upheld the appointment while dismissing a writ petition filed D.B. Binu, general secretary, RTI Kerala Federation. Citing a Supreme Court judgment, the court said it was clear that a person unconnected with a political party or a former member of a political party could be appointed as SIC. So Mr. Thengamom could not be debarred from being SIC. The petitioner said Mr. Sony was the assistant secretary of the Kollam committee of the CPI when the selection panel consisting of the Chief Minister, Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition recommended his name. So, he was not qualified to be appointed as SIC.
The government took the stand that Mr. Sony was not an active member of any political party at the time of his selection.
Nor did he hold membership of any political party at that time.
The Bench also dismissed the allegation that he was unable to perform the duties of SIC as he was sick. The court said there was no material to indicate that Mr. Sony was ailing.
He was CPI member, says petitioner
No proof to indicate he is ailing: court
