SC seeks Centre's reply about 'Leader of Opposition' on important panels

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday sought a response from the Centre on a plea that the leader of the single largest opposition party is treated as the Leader of the Opposition and be included in high-level committees involved in the appointment of heads of statutory bodies like CBI, CVC, CIC and Lokpal.

The apex court issued a notice to the Centre and the four statutory bodies on the PIL seeking direction that wherever the appointing committee includes the Leader of the Opposition, the same may be read as to mean the leader of the single largest opposition party in that House.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and S K Kaul after brief hearing agreed to examine the two issues but declined to entertain the plea that sought decisions on the

appointment of the Director CBI, the Central Vigilance Commissioner, the Chief

Information Commissioner and the Lokpal be taken by unanimous vote of the appointing committee. See P7