Govt recommends Sathasivam's name as Kerala governor

Government has recommended the name of former Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam for appointment as governor of Kerala.

Official sources said that Sathasivam's name has been sent by the Home Ministry to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to succeed Sheila Dikshit who quit a few days ago.

A formal announcement from Rashtrapati Bhavan is expected after the return of President Pranab Mukherjee from his two-day tour to Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow, the sources said.

The Centre's move to appoint Sathasivam as governor has sparked a debate in political and legal circles on the propriety of giving gubernatorial assignment to a person who retired from the highest judicial office in the country.

He had served as CJI for nine months from July 2013 to April 2014 before retiring.

As a Supreme Court judge, he delivered some landmark judgments including one involving Reliance gas dispute wherein he emphasised the use of natural resources through public sector undertakings. He also favoured continuing with the system of collegium for appointments to higher judiciary.