Govt opposes PIL challenging appointment of Maria, others

The Maharashtra government today strongly opposed a public interest litigation filed in the Bombay High Court which alleges violation of rules in the appointment of Rakesh Maria and Vijay Kamble as the police commissioners of Mumbai and Thane, respectively.
No public interest was involved and hence it should not be entertained, said the government pleader.
The state cited High Court judgements to show that only aggrieved persons can file a petition in the service-related matters.
The bench of Justices Anoop Mohata and Nitin Jamdar adjourned the hearing for a week to enable the petitioner Hemant Patil to show how the issue concerned public interest.

The PIL also alleges that the government violated rules to promote Javed Ahmed as director general of police (home guards) and demands stay to the appointment of Maria and Kamble.
It mentions that after Maria's appointment as the Mumbai police commissioner, both Javed and Kamble had protested as both were reportedly in the race for the coveted post.