Bombay High Court on Monday issued a notice to social activist Anna Hazare in a petition challenging a stay granted on the recruitment of Battiwalas in the Pune Municipal Corporation. Petitioner Vikas Ekbote, an aspirant to the post, contends that the stay granted on the recruitment by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on August 13, 2008 has been challenged. The job profile of a Battiwala includes supervision and maintenance of street lights within the boundary of the corporation. The Pune Municipal Corporation had started the recruitment process on August 22. However, a complaint written on the letter head of Hakka Nivara Samiti, making a reference to Hazare and alleging rampant corruption in the selection process was sent to the state government and the Bombay High Court. Assistant government pleader Pradeep Patil said that the Pune Municipal Corporation, as directed by the CM, decided to stay the recruitment process. Appearing for the state government, Patil and assistant government pleader Vinay Masurkar on Monday asked the court to grant them time to file their reply.The CM and Hazare have been made respondents in the petition. The case will come up for hearing on November 20.
