Former CVC challenges Supreme Court verdict

Former Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) P. J. Thomas has urged the President Pratibha Patil not to appoint his successor till the court decides on his plea challenging his ouster from the post. Defence Secretary, Pradeep Kumar, who was named as Thomas successor is scheduled to be sworn-in chief corruption watchdog.  Thomas was removed from the post as stated by the Supreme Court of his appointment as the CVC invalid. Later on Tuesday, Thomas moved to Delhi High Court challenging the Supreme Court ruling. According to counsel for Thomas, Will Mathews, the new CVC had to be appointed only after the proper verification into the legality and validity of the apex court judgement. Mathews stated that the Supreme Court judgment was delivered by a three-judge bench which should have been a five-judge bench. Hence here the legality and validity of the judgment itself is disputed. Thomas was appointed as the CVC last year despite the allegations of corruptions against him. He was accused of ordering import of edible oil at a inflated price in the early 1990's while serving as a senior bureaucrat in Kerala causing loss of millions of rupees. Also a criminal case is still pending against him in a Kerala court. A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice S. H. Kapadia observed on March 3 this year that the corruption charges pending against him could have ruled him out for a job that requires him to check corruption among government officials and bureaucrats. On March 14 following the court ruling President Pratibha Patil signed the warrant of cancellation of Thomas's appointment as CVC. Reported by      AR