<p> Reacting to the notice served on him, Thomas, who is in the vortex of serious charges of corruption and alleged involvement in a criminal case, sought to spin the Supreme Court’s action as an opportunity for him to place his case. Responding to the notice, he said: “An opportunity has been given to me to explain my position. A reply will be filed in the form of a counter-affidavit.”<br /><br />A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice H S Kapadia said: “We have gone through the file (appointment of CVC). It is a very sensitive matter. It needs detailed arguments. Notice to respondents for filing reply.’’ <br /><br />The Bench was hearing a clutch of petitions seeking Thomas’s removal from the post of CVC on the ground that he was chargesheeted in an alleged corruption case when he was secretary to the Food and Civil Supplies department in Kerala in 1992. It is alleged that he allowed the import of edible oil from Malaysia at unjustifiable rates.<br /><br />Fixing January 27, 2011, for final arguments, the Bench issued direction to the parties for completion of pleadings by the next date.<br /><br />Appearing for one of the petitioners, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan said he would serve the notice on Thomas on behalf of the Supreme Court. Minister of State for Personnel, Pensions and Public Grievances V Narayanasamy said the government will file all the details before the Bench. <br /><br />Asked whether the government was considering refusing sanction of prosecution against Thomas, he said: “Everything will be done after due deliberation.”</p>
<p> Reacting to the notice served on him, Thomas, who is in the vortex of serious charges of corruption and alleged involvement in a criminal case, sought to spin the Supreme Court’s action as an opportunity for him to place his case. Responding to the notice, he said: “An opportunity has been given to me to explain my position. A reply will be filed in the form of a counter-affidavit.”<br /><br />A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice H S Kapadia said: “We have gone through the file (appointment of CVC). It is a very sensitive matter. It needs detailed arguments. Notice to respondents for filing reply.’’ <br /><br />The Bench was hearing a clutch of petitions seeking Thomas’s removal from the post of CVC on the ground that he was chargesheeted in an alleged corruption case when he was secretary to the Food and Civil Supplies department in Kerala in 1992. It is alleged that he allowed the import of edible oil from Malaysia at unjustifiable rates.<br /><br />Fixing January 27, 2011, for final arguments, the Bench issued direction to the parties for completion of pleadings by the next date.<br /><br />Appearing for one of the petitioners, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan said he would serve the notice on Thomas on behalf of the Supreme Court. Minister of State for Personnel, Pensions and Public Grievances V Narayanasamy said the government will file all the details before the Bench. <br /><br />Asked whether the government was considering refusing sanction of prosecution against Thomas, he said: “Everything will be done after due deliberation.”</p>
