Dec 6: After its stinging remarks, the Supreme Court today asked controversial bureaucrat P J Thomas to explain his continuance as Central Vigilance Commissioner despite facing a corruption case in a Kerala court.
The apex court, which examined the file relating to Thomas' appointment as CVC, sought the explanation, issuing him notices on various petitions which contended that he did not fulfill the criteria for holding such an important and sensitive post.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia issued the notice also to the government on various petitions challenging the appointment of Thomas as CVC despite having been chargesheeted in Palmolein oil import case in Kerala. Thomas, who was appointed as CVC on September 7 this year, was issued notices on petitions filed by NGO, Centre for Public Interst Litigation(CPIL) and some other eminent persons including former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh against his appointment.
"We have gone through the file. We will keep the matter for final hearing," the bench also comprising justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar said while posting the matter for hearing on January 27. "Let them file their affidavit," the bench said, while also asking them to complete the process of filing replies and counter replies and other written submissions by the next date of hearing. Attorney General G E Vahanvati accepted the notice on behalf of the government but declined to accept it on behalf of Thomas.
"I cannot accept notice on behalf of Thomas," the AG said when advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for CPIL suggested that the law officer can accept notices for all respondents.