Notice to government, CVC Thomas on appointment

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the central government and P.J. Thomas on a petition challenging his appointment as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).

Thomas’ appointment as CVC has been challenged in a public suit.

The court will hear the matter Jan 27, 2011.

The opposition has been demanding Thomas’ resignation as he has been chargsheeted in a palm oil import scam when he was Kerala’s civil supplies secretary.

Thomas, who was the telecom secretary prior to becoming the CVC, has recused himself from the ongoing probe into the allocation of 2G spectrum that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India says caused a presumptive loss of Rs.1.76 crore to the exchequer. The scam also cost then telecom minister A. Raja his job.

Parliament has been stalled on the issue for 17 consecutive days, with the opposition demanding a probe into the 2G by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) and the government refusing to accept this.