In the present selection process, he said that there was no advertisement or any government notification informing the general public about the vacancies in the commission and the eligibility criteria. There was no pre- selection committee or screening committee, he alleged.

According to him, the General Administrative Department (GAD) received some unsolicited applications for the post. The statutory committee consisting of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and the Opposition leader sat with the list and picked up 8 candidates. Lamenting that the whole process was disgustingly opaque, he asked how the Committee shortlisted 8 names without following the procedure.

Raju recalled that the Punjab High Court in its judgment with regard to the appointment of information commissioners in that state has suggested that for such critical posts a clear and transparent methodology should be followed.

The Supreme Court in its judgment in Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) against the appointment of PJ Thomas has mentioned exhaustive guidelines and procedures to be followed for the selection of such statutory posts.

He alleged that the government of Andhra Pradesh has overlooked the nicety connected with the appointments with utter recklessness. The administration has thrown caution and semblance to the winds and has acted in a very anarchic way, unbecoming of an “evolved’ democratic state.

He said that it was very heartening to note the civil society’s reaction to the haphazard appointments. It raises hopes of the emerging pro-active civil society across the horizon.