PM accepts blame over CVC appointment

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday accepted complete responsibility for the appointment of tainted bureaucrat PJ Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), who has now been removed after a Supreme Court order.

Singh said he has accepted the apex court?s ruling and stressed there were no coalition compulsions behind Thomas? appointment.

?I have already said I respect the judgement of the Supreme Court. I accept my responsibility,? Singh was quoted as stating in media reports.

In a historic judgement that came as a jolt to the Prime Minister, the Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the appointment of PJ Thomas as the CVC of India, the top corruption watchdog of the nation chosen by a panel headed by the PM.

The judgement was passed by a three-judge bench of the apex court headed by the Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia.

The court acted on a petition challenging appointment of Thomas as the country’s chief corruption watchdog since his past records on corruption issues were not clean.

The court also found fault in the committee of the Prime Minister that appointed Thomas and said the government should have gone beyond his bio-data.

Thomas is likely to file a review petition.

The matter had echoed in the Parliament also on Friday, with the Opposition members demanding a statement for the Prime Minister.