SC to Centre: Nothing to fear if no 'hanky-panky'

A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court asked the Centre to produce files pertaining to the appointment of former IAS officer Arun Goel as the Election Commissioner

The Court’s direction came on Wednesday while it was hearing a batch of petitions seeking an independent mechanism to appoint Election Commissioners to the Chief Election Commission

The Apex Court observed that the Centre should not have gone ahead with Goel’s appointment since the matter was being heard by the court

Goel, a 1985-batch IAS officer, was appointed election commissioner on November 19 by the Centre

He was secretary in the ministry of Heavy Industries till he took voluntary retirement from service on November 17

SC has asked the Attorney General to produce the files, including the appointment letter issued to him on the next hearing scheduled for Thursday