DR. SHANTH A. THIMMAIAH Vs. GOVT. OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These eight cases, six of them filed in PIL jurisdiction, regardless of the tenor of pleadings broadly raise the issue relating to the norms of appointment and the normative process of selection and appointment to the office of the Chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (hereafter 'KSPCB'). It is relevant to state the principal prayers made in each of the petitions. They are as under:

(2.) The relevant paragraphs in the said order are reproduced below:

(3.) Coming to the prayers made in these two petitions, the common challenge is to the Guidelines issued by the State Government by an order dated 19thJune, 2020. By the said Guidelines, qualifications have been laid down for nomination/appointment to the post of Chairman, Members and the Member-Secretary of the said Board. Clause (3) of the Guidelines in the Annexure to the Government Order dated 19th June, 2020 lays down the qualifications for the post of the Chairman of the said Board. Clause (4) lays down the maximum age limit for the post. Clause (5) provides for a Search-cum-Selection Committee for making a nomination to the post of the chairman. The procedure to be followed by the Search Committee is laid down in clauses (6) and (7). Clauses (8) and (9) relate to the appointment of the Member-Secretary to the said Board and nomination of non-official members.