By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court ruling as illegal P.J. Thomas’ appointment as central vigilance commissioner (CVC) and said he would speak on it in parliament.
“I respect the court judgment and I will speak in the house,” he told reporters outside parliament.
The apex court Thursday struck down the appointment of Thomas as CVC for his alleged involvement in a corruption case, six months after he was appointed to the post.
The court said the appointment made by a high-powered committee, consisting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and opposition leader Sushma Swaraj, does not exist in law.
The apex court gave its verdict on a petition by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) challenging Thomas’ appointment.
The petitioner had said that Thomas was facing a criminal chargesheet in a case related to palm oil import in Kerala and he was not an “outstanding civil servant of impeccable integrity”.