SC seeks Centre's explanation on Ramasundram's appointment

Appointment of woman IPS officer Archana Ramasundram as additional director of the CBI came under judicial scrutiny with Supreme Court today seeking Centre's explanation for taking the decision disregarding recommendation of the selection committee.
A bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha issued notice to the Centre asking it file its response on a PIL challenging her appointment.
The court passed the order on a petition filed by journalist Vineet Narain who submitted that her appointment was arbitrary as apex court's verdict was disregarded.
The appointment was also done in violation of the Central Vigilance Commission Act and Delhi Special Police Establishment Act (DSPE), the petition said.

Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the petitioner, contended that government appointed Ramasundram by overlooking the selection committee's recommendation of R K Pachnanda.
"The appointment of Archana Ramasundram is in violation of Section 4C of DSPE Act as the government has not appointed the candidate recommended by the Committee and instead appointed a person whose name was not recommended by the Committee," he submitted.
Ramasundram, a 1980 batch officer from Tamil Nadu cadre, had served in the CBI as Deputy Inspector-General and later as its first woman Joint Director and handled various cases pertaining to Economic Offences between 1999 and 2006.