Date:30/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/30/stories/2007053014401400.htm

National

CIC order on Menon appointment stayed

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed the Central Information Commission's (CIC) May 7 order directing the Centre to place before it, all relevant documents relating to the appointment of Shiv Shankar Menon as Foreign Secretary.

Staying the CIC's order on a petition by the Union Government, Justice B.D. Ahmed of the Court said: " The CIC order shall be kept in abeyance till further orders."

The Centre, through Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam, submitted that the information sought was not covered under the Right to Information Act.

The CIC had passed the direction on an application by senior Indian Foreign Service officer Veena Sikri seeking information about the appointment of Mr. Menon as Foreign Secretary, alleging gender bias in the appointment.