New Delhi : Acting on a petition by a civil society group, the Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) PJ Thomas asking him why his appointment as the country’s top watchdog should not not be cancelled in the weak of corruption charge against him.
The apex court also served notice to the Union Government on the petition challenging the appointment of Thomas as the CVC on the ground that he is facing corruption charges.
The court listed the matter for final hearing on Jan 27.
Chief Justice S H Kapadia’s bench issued the notices on the case of a Public Interest Litigation filed by People?s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and former Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh challenging the appointment.
“In view the pendency of the criminal charge sheet against him he cannot be treated as a person of unblemished record,” said Prashant Bhushan, the civil liberty lawyer representing PUCL.
Thomas was named CVC recently by a three-member panel, which included the Prime Minister, despite Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj’s objection as Thomas is accused of the scam.
Swaraj had also complained to President Pratibha Patil seeking her intervention in removing the CVC.
Thomas, a former Kerala’s Food and Civil Supplies secretary, is accused of corruption, which allowed the import of edible oil from Malaysia at unjustifiable rates in 1992 and thus caused loss of the money to the exchequer.
He was also the former Telecom secretary during the 2G spectrum scam.
The Supreme Court too had expressed reservations over how a tainted officer could head one of the nation’s highest offices.
Thomas’ role in the 2G scam is being questioned as he was secretary to former Telecom Minister A Raja, when 2G licenses were handed at inexplicably-discounted rates to the telecom providers in 2008.
The matter is now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Despite speculation about the fact that he would resign shortly, Thomas has said that the government favoured his appointment as CVC despite the charges against him, and that he will continue in office.