CVC refuses to quit
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JAN 28
Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas has dug his heels refusing to resign from the post even as the government and the Congress were groping in dark on how to wriggle out of the huge embarrassment on his appointment ignoring the corruption case of palmolein import pending against him.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly pulled up Law Minister M Veerappa Moily for floating reports, after meeting him on Thursday, that the CVC is being asked to resign. His rebuke came after Thomas protested that any such resignation would amount to acceptance of taint that is too painful for him, coming at the end of his career as a bureaucrat.
Sources denied any proposal made to Thomas in this regard and also denied any kind of offer for rehabilitation in another form if he obliged with the resignation. Such reports had surfaced in November also and were promptly denied, they said
The government is keeping its fingers crossed, hoping that a face-saver may come from the Supreme Court by quashing his appointment as irregular. Its embarrassment, however, may continue for long as the court is not expected to conclude hearing on the public interest litigation (PIL) so fast to pass the judgement. The next hearing is on February 3.
Congress leaders egging on the government to request President Pratibha Patil to at least suspend Thomas, as done early this month in case of Prasar Bharti Chief Executive Officer B S Lalli, were told that it is not possible for the cabinet to recommend such an action as Thomas has done no wrong as the CVC to be acted upon. For the same reason, even the impeachment proceedings, as the only way to remove a CVC as provided under the Act, cannot be initiated against Thomas.
They also scotched the speculation by electronic media that the Congress core group that met here in the evening will decide the CVC’s fate. They pointed out that the group can only advise the government while it is not in the government’s hand to remove Thomas unless and except if he volunteers.
Thomas has reportedly told some bureaucrat friends that he had never sought his appointment as the CVC after his retirement as the telecom secretary in September, but his exit at this stage will leave an unwarranted taint on him. He was actually reluctant in the first instance, since his bigger concern is to attend to a challenged son he has.
