The Kerala High Court today virtually put on hold the state government's decision to appoint Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners, ordering status quo on the matter.

Justice Mohammed Mushtaq ordered status quo and issued notices to the three-member selection committee which comprised Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Industry Minister P K Kunhalikutty and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly V S Achuthanandan.

The panel had met to shortlist the CIC and five Information Commissioners and the name of former DGP Vinson M Paul was recommended to the Governor with dissent from Achuthanandan.

The court gave the order while hearing a petition challenging the recommendations made by the committee on the ground that no proecedure had been followed by the panel.

On Monday, the court had directed the state government to produce records pertaining to the proposed appointment of Paul as CIC and other information commissioners.

When the matter came up today, the government told the court that the file relating to the appointment was with the state Governor, following which the Judge ordered status quo.

Petitioner S Somanathan Pillai has alleged the committee followed no procedure and recommended persons without assessing the merit of candidates and on political considerations and whims and fancies.