New Delhi, July 15 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought response from the government, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and AIIMS on a plea seeking quashing of the "illegal" appointment of the medical institute's Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO).

A bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued notice to the union health ministry, secretary of the CVC and the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on the plea seeking quashing of the ministry's order appointing Manoj Jhalani as the AIIMS CVO.

The court asked them to file replies and slated the matter for August 26.

The plea was filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan who alleged that Jhalani's appointment violated the provisions of the Vigilance Manual.

Jhalani was assigned the charge initially for three months on August 14, 2014, which was extended by another three months on November 7, 2014 by the ministry. The plea said the "ministry is not the appropriate authority to do so".

It sought direction to make fresh appointment to the post as per provisions of the Vigilance Manual, AIIMS Act.