New Delhi, Sep 14 - The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the Maharashtra government on a lawsuit challenging its appointment of S.S. Virk as the state police chief despite his dubious service record and a corruption case pending against him in Punjab.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P. Sathasivam also issued notices to the central and Punjab governments on a lawsuit by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, which also questioned the Maharashtra government's July 2009 decision to extend Virk's tenure by three months.

The CPIL lawsuit contended that Virk was appointed Maharahstra police chief despite the fact that he is 'facing two departmental proceedings against him in the Punjab police for his series of misconducts committed while on deputation there'.

'The Punjab government has also indicted him in a criminal-cum-corruption case, which is pending in the trial court of Mohali,' said the lawsuit.