CM charged with nepotism over appointment of Govt pleader

CM charged with nepotism over appointment of Govt pleader
K S Manojkumar

AURANGABAD, AUG 29: Serious charges of high-handedness have been levelled against Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in the appointment of the government pleader at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court here. A petition filed before the High Court has contended that Eknath Sawant, was appointed to the prestigious in complete violation of relevant rules and set precedents.

The petition filed by a senior advocate, Mahaedorao Andhale, contends that nothing was done to evaluate the competence of Sawant before making his appointment to the post, or that he deserved to be appointed to the office of the public prosecutor.

Terming the appointment as a product of a `spoilt system' Andhale has alleged that he had reason to believe that it was the Chief Minister's personal secretary, Shanker Bhise, who prevailed upon him to appoint Sawant as the government pleader and prosecutor. Sawant is Bhise's brother-in-law.

Sawant's appointment came within 24 hours of Bhise issuing a letter to the secretary, Law and Judiciary Department, asking him to appoint his brother-in-law as the government pleader.

The petitioner states that the appointment to the post, which has come to be regarded as a public office,' is made under Rule 13 (2) of the Maharashtra Law offiicers (appointment, conditions of service and rumerations) rules 1984. The rule lays down that before such an appoitment is made, the government shall invite applications from eligible candidates and then the applications shall beput before the selection committee.

This task is carried out by the Law and Judiciary Department through a selection committee, comprising Minister of State for Law and Judiciary as its chairman, advocate general of Maharashtra, a principal secretary and remembrancer of legal affairs as its members.

However, in spite of the fact that such a committee was in existence at the time of appointing the government pleader at Aurangabad, the matter was never referred to it, the petition states.

The rule lays down that before such an appoitment is made, the government shall invite applications from eligible candidates. The applications are then put before the selection committee.