A day after informing Parliament that the Prime Minister’s Office under Manmohan Singh had pushed for the extension of tenure of a judge of the Madras High Court facing corruption charges, the government on Wednesday demanded that the former Prime Minister “clarify” the position.
“The former Prime Minister must come out and clarify whether he acted under pressure or not. This will enhance the image of the judiciary,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said outside Parliament. He said the whole account of the affair, brought out by the former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju, showed the working of the UPA government.
It was trying to compromise on each and every issue, he charged. Mr. Katju alleged that the UPA Government had pushed for extension of tenure of a “tainted’’ additional judge of Madras HC for staying in power as its key ally from Tamil Nadu had threatened to withdraw support.
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Raising the issue during Zero Hour, AIADMK leader V. Maitreyan asked about “the unusual interest the former Prime Minister and his office had in the appointment of an additional judge of the Madras High Court.”