In an affidavit in the Supreme Court cleared by Attorney General G E Vahanvati, the government also said there was no need for “consensus” of the three-member high powered committee on CVC’s appointment.

While the prime pinister and the home minister had approved his appointment, leader of the opposition Sushma Swaraj, who was the third member of the panel, opposed the same on account of Thomas’s “tainted” image.

The affidavit said no statutory norms were violated in the appointment of Thomas and his suitability for the post should not be decided by the apex court.