Tue Feb 04 20:20:28 IST 2025: ## Karnataka High Court Stays Appointments of Information Commissioners Pending Legal Challenge

**Bengaluru, February 4, 2025** – The Karnataka High Court has issued an interim order halting the appointments of the State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) and seven State Information Commissioners (SICs) pending the outcome of a legal challenge. The court’s decision follows a petition filed by K. Mallikarjuna Raju, who argued that the selection process violated a 2019 Supreme Court ruling mandating the formation of a search committee to scrutinize applications.

Raju claims the government failed to establish such a committee, as required by Section 15(3) of the Right to Information Act. The appointments include retired IPS officer Ashit Mohan Prasad as SCIC, and retired IAS officer Mamatha B.R., along with several senior journalists. The petition further alleges that Mr. Prasad applied only for an SIC position, not the SCIC post he was ultimately given.

The State Advocate General countered that the appointments adhered to Supreme Court guidelines, asserting a search committee had reviewed applications before the Chief Minister-headed selection committee made its choices. Despite the appointees being sworn in on Tuesday evening, the court clarified that this would not prevent it from considering the interim stay request.

Justice R. Devdas issued notices to the newly appointed commissioners and adjourned the hearing until February 10th. The court’s interim order effectively suspends the commissioners’ roles until the legality of their appointments is fully determined.

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