An online campaign to get Ajit Prakash Shah, retired chief justice of Delhi high court, appointed as chief of the Central Information Commission, is doing the rounds these days. Started by social activist Milan Choraria, the petition had received support from 178 individuals, including lawyers and social activists.

The text of the campaign reads: "The denial of the elevation of Justice Ajit Prakash Shah to the Supreme Court by the Supreme Court Collegium is unfair to judiciary itself. However, I hope that government of India was not a party to such mistake. Therefore, this is my humble submission that Justice Ajit Prakash Shah, should be appointed as Chief Information Commissioner of Central Information Commission, if he accept the assignment considering its importance in the larger public interest."

Wajahat Habibullah, the present CIC chief will retire in September 2010.

The petition has also been sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily.
Shah retired last week. He would be remembered for two landmark judgements--decriminalisation of homosexuality and bringing the office of Chief Justice of India under the RTI. Despite his seniority and his impeccable records, he was denied promotion to the apex court.