P.J. Thomas may consider filing a review petition in the Supreme Court which on Thursday quashed his appointment as CVC, his counsel indicated.
Dismissing reports that Mr. Thomas has resigned, his counsel Wills Mathews said he would go through the judgement and consider “whether to resign or to file a review petition.”
Speaking to PTI, the counsel claimed Mr. Thomas has not yet gone through the judgement and would take a decision only after perusuing it.
“I just talked him. He was prepared to resign long back but at that time there was a legal opinion that he should not resign. So he continued,” the counsel claimed.
Citing the provisions in the CVC Act, Mr. Mathews said he can be removed only by the President or alternatively he can resign.
Earlier, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said Mr. P.J. Thomas had resigned after the Supreme Court held his appointment as illegal.
“He has resigned... the Supreme Court has also held his appointment as illegal,” Mr. Moily told reporters here.
To a question on the Supreme Court’s rap on the government on Mr. Thomas’ appointment, Mr. Moily said, “We respect the judgement. Other details we won’t be able to say because we are yet to go through the judgement.”
Shortly after the Supreme Court’s verdict on Mr. Thomas, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Mr. Moily to discuss the issue. Minister of State in PMO V. Narayanasamy was also present.
After a brief meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Moily and Mr. Narayanasamy met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
