With the Enforcement Directorate looking into Puducherry lieutenant-governor Iqbal Singh’s alleged links with Hasan Ali Khan, Mr Singh on Sunday said that he is ready to resign from the post if asked to. Khan is facing tax evasion and money laundering charges.
Government sources said that the Union home ministry is examining the ED’s request to question Mr Singh.
Sources in the ED, on condition of anonymity, said that summons have been issued to Mr Singh and necessary procedures are underway to process the request to question him. This includes examining the granting of legal sanction by forwarding it to the President’s office.
“I’m ready for any kind of inquiry by any authority. If I’m asked to, I’m ready to resign from my post. But so far there is no indication from anyone,” Mr Singh told agency. “The Enforcement Directorate or any other investigating agency has not approached me for any inquiry. If they come, I’ll cooperate with them,” he said.
Mr Singh had written to home minister P. Chidambaram admitting that he had recommended expeditious issue of passport to Pune stud farm owner Khan but claimed he did not know him.
Mr Singh, who met Mr Chidambaram on Friday, had said he had made the recommendation for Khan at the behest of a Bihar Congress leader. “I have already clarified my position on my recommendation for issuing of passport to Hasan Ali. But why there is no investigation on other issues like where Hasan Ali travelled to, what was he doing in foreign land and whether he has kept any money abroad,” Mr Singh said.
“I have no relation with Hasan Ali, nor do I know him personally. My conscience is clear. I didn’t do anything wrong,” Mr Singh said. He said, “I was asked for a letter, I was given this letter. And a letter was made and given there. A response on it was received from I.K. Gujral.”
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‘Curb discretion in judges’ appointments’
New Delhi, April 17: Disfavouring the idea of having pre-1993 supremacy of executive’s say in appointment of judges in higher judiciary, former Union law minister Arun Jaitley wants restriction on their discretion in their appointing authority and having “comparable objective criteria” for judicial appointments.
He does not approve the idea of restoring the primacy of the executive in judicial appointments apprehending that political parties might be amenable to pressures from their acquaintances for appointment as judges.
Mooting the idea of having “comparable objective criteria” in judicial appointments, Mr Jaitley said, “You need a legislative change which must now legislatively restrict the discretion of the appointing authority whether it is collegium or a commission.”
He was replying to a question if the pre-1993 primacy of executive in judicial appointment needs to be restored. —PTI