New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Delhi government's response on a public suit challenging its decision to appoint a commission of inquiry into the alleged multi-crore rupee CNG fitness scam.

A number of officials of previous the Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi government are under the scanner in the scam.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath sought a response from the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on the suit, which said that the government a issued notification of setting up commission of inquiry without the lieutenant governor's nod.

The court has sought the government's response by September 23.

The suit sought a direction to quash the notification.

On August 11, the government issued notification to appoint the commission into the scam that is already being probed by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB).

The Commission of Inquiry will be headed by retired Delhi High Court judge Justice S.N. Agarwal.

The scam had come to light in 2012 when ACB found that the Delhi government had lost nearly Rs.100 crore in alleged irregularities in awarding contract to operate and maintain inspection and certification of CNG vehicles at the transport authority in Burari to ESP India Pvt Ltd instead of ESP USA.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had accused Lt Governor Najeeb Jung of trying to hush up the scam.