New Delhi, Mar 3 (ANI): Former bureaucrat PJ Thomas, who is facing a corruption case in a Kerala court, on Thursday handed over his resignation to the government after the Supreme Court struck down his appointment as Central Vigilance Commissioner.
Thomas has sent his resignation to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
A three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia delivered its verdict on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought removal of Thomas from the position of CVC.
The apex court, which had on February 10 reserved its on petitions challenging the appointment of Thomas, said the appointment was illegal and that he must go. The apex court further said criminal case should have been considered.
Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj after the Supreme Court judgement said that the dignity of the office of the Central Vigilance Commission has been restored, and welcomed the verdict.
Earlier, a bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia reserved their orders after hearing arguments from various sides, including those presented by Prashant Bhushan, counsel for the petitioner, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, Thomas's counsel KK Venugopal and Attorney General GE Vahanvati.
Thomas, through senior advocate K K Venugopal, had earlier argued that he fulfilled the eligibility criteria prescribed for the CVC's post and the court could not take into account the pending chargesheet to fault him on grounds of impeccable integrity since it was not part of the qualifications prescribed under the CVC Act.
The Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO and others had earlier challenged Thomas's appointment as the CVC, quoting the Palmolein import corruption case in which Thomas is an accused. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
