Thomas tells SC he is a man of 'impeccable integrity'

New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Controversial Central Vigilance
Commissioner (CVC) P J Thomas on Tuesday told the Indian apex
court that he was a man of "impeccable integrity" and had
fulfilled all criteria for appointment to the post after being
selected as Secretary in the Government.
He said among the shortlisted bureaucrats, he was the
senior-most and only person who had served as Chief Secretary,
besides having got clearance from the Central Vigilance
Commission to be considered for empanelment for appointment as
CVC as there was no sanction for his prosecution in the
Palmolein import case.
Thomas said the question relating to the documents
relating to the corruption case not being circulated before
the panel headed by the Prime Minister had no relevance in the
backdrop of the selection process adopted for the appointment
of CVC.
"I also must state that the inquiry about the
documents being placed before the three-member committee may
not be relevant in the light of the fact that all the names on
the shortlist were of secretaries to the government, who, by
virtue of their process of selection as secretaries, are
deemed to be of impeccable integrity," he said in his
affidavit.
He said, "It is assumed that by virtue of being
secretaries to the Union government where they would have held
very sensitive information in ministries like Home, External
Affairs, Finance and Law & Justice, they would be fit to
handle responsibilities as chairmen of tribunals.
"It can hardly be contended that I am deemed fit to be
Secretary to the Government (as I had been empanelled) but not
to hold my present post (CVC)," Thomas said in the 12-page
affidavit settled by senior advocate K K Venugopal.
He said when names are considered for empanelment as
secretaries, vigilance clearances are sought.
In his case, he said, vigilance clearance about him
and eight others from the 1972 and 1973 batches of IAS
officers was sought.
"There were nine officers who were in the zone of
considerations for the post," he said and mentioned the names
of the bureaucrats who were cleared for the empanelment.
He said, "Virtually every single officer in the zone
of consideration had complaints or charge sheets pending
against them but it is the CVC that looks into the entire
material and decides whether clearance ought to be granted or
not.
"An impression has been created that my case is a
unique one and that I alone suffer some taint against my
name. Clearly, it is routine for the officers in discharge
of their duties to have cases slapped against them, many of
which are trumped-up or politically motivated," said Thomas.
He said, "In an environment where bureaucrats bear the
burnt of protests against the governmental actions, it is
necessary that an objective view be taken of how the officers
function."