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| Politics
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| PM on Thomas controversy |
| Accept full responsibility: PM on Thomas controversy
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| INDIA
, 7-March-2011
2:8:8 AM |
| The Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha today said he accepts "full responsibility" for the controversial appointment of PJ Thomas as the country's Chief Vigilance Commissioner - a decision that was declared illegal by the Supreme Court last week.
The PM first recounted the events that led to Mr Thomas' selection as Commissioner in September 2010, and the court cases that challenged that appointment.
Mr Thomas faces a case of corruption himself, which is why BJP leader Sushma Swaraj had objected to his candidacy. She was over-ruled by the other two members of the selection committee -the Prime Minister and Home Minister P Chidambaram.
When the PM completed stating the facts, Ms Swaraj said that she had expected him to make a statement closer in tone to what he said at a public function in Jammu last week - that he took responsibility for an incorrect decision. "I am shocked that you have not expressed that sort of regret," said Ms Swaraj.
Dr Manmohan Singh immediately stood up and said 'I accept full responsibility."
The Supreme Court found fault with the selection process for Mr Thomas, as well as "the arbitrariness" of how Ms Swaraj was over-ruled.
Mr Thomas was a senior bureaucrat in Kerala in the early 90s, when he allegedly pushed the government to allow the import of edible oil or palmolein. The deal ended up costing the government crores. Mr Thomas was charged with corruption in a criminal case, but because of the political sensitivities of those named with him, the case progressed in fits and starts, depending on which government was in power in Kerala. Mr Thomas enjoyed a series of promotions which saw him being deputed to the centre.
The court said that the PM's selection committee had not considered the relevant documents for his case, and that it had ignored earlier recommendations for action against him listed by the Department of Personnel and Training.
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