New Delhi, Mar 3: Slamming the Prime Minister- headed High-Powered Committee, the Supreme Court today quashed the controversial appointment of P J Thomas as CVC, who is facing a corruption case, delivering a major blow to the Government already reeling under a rash of scams.
 Holding that the touchstone for the appointment of CVC is the "institutional integrity" as well as the personal integrity of the candidate, the court faulted on grounds of arbitrariness and ignoring  "relevant material" the HPC's decision to recommend Thomas, 60, for making him the head of anti-corruption watchdog.
 Shortly after the judgement, Law Minister Veerappa Moily said Thomas, who was made Central Vigilance Commissioner on September seven last in the face of dissent by opposition, has resigned but his lawyer disputed it.
 However, experts say the question of resignation does not arise as the court has struck down the appointment holding that the recommendation by the HPC headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is "non est" (does not exist) in law.
 Disposing of a PIL filed by an NGO CPIL and others that included former CEC J M Lyngdoh, the court said "It is declared that the September 3, 2010 recommendation of the HPC recommnending the name of P J Thomas as CVC under the proviso to Section 4(1) of the 2003 Act is non-est(does not exist) in law and, consequently, his impugned appointment as CVC is quashed. His appointment goes."

Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST