HC dismisses PIL challenging appointment of MP law officers

The Madhya Pradesh High Court today dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of law officers made by the state government.
The Indore bench of the high court, comprising justices P K Jaiswal Virender Singh, dismissed the PIL filed by activist Mahesh Garg.
The plea alleged that the appointment of law officers for representing the state government in the high court has been made as per the "whims and fancies" of the ruling BJP and the minimum eligibility criteria for the post has been ignored.
However, while dismissing the PIL, the high court cited a Supreme Court observation.

"The apex court has observed that the states should do well to reform their system of selection and appointment (of law officers) to make the same more transparent, fair and objective and if necessary, may amend the manuals/rules and regulations on the subject," the court said.
"Therefore, it is (for) the state government to consider the directions issued by apex court," it added.

The high court also dismissed the petitioner's plea seeking direction for the state government to introduce a change in the process of law officers' appointments.
"The issue of any direction as prayed for by the petitioner will be an inroad in the functions of the state government," the court observed.

Terming the allegations in the petition "baseless", the state government said guidelines had been issued on February 27, 2013 for the appointment of law officers and the appointment of government lawyers has been made as per the criteria.
On behalf of the state government, the high court was also informed that the performance of government lawyers in the court cases is being constantly monitored and reviewed.