Nariman’s refusal impacted Thomas’s rejection to head Lokpal search panel

New Delhi: Justice K.T. Thomas, who was a Supreme Court judge from March 29, 1996, to January 1, 2002 in reply to a question if top jurist Fali S. Nariman’s recent refusal played any role to play in his decision of rejecting the offer to head the Lokpal search panel said, “It was not for the same reason... But it became a point to go through the rules — whether it was worth while to be on the committee or not.”

The Congress tried to put on a brave face following the former judge’s move, with party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi saying, “Where is the question of the government being embarrassed? I do not find any head or tail of this question. It is a statutory body. Each position on this has to be filled,” he said, adding, “Giving or not giving consent cannot be linked to the government. These are private decisions. People can say yes or no for many reasons. How can you blame the government for this?”

(Read - K.T. Thomas turns down job to select Lokpal)

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley accused the government of usurping the search committee’s powers. “Why are top legal luminaries resigning from the Lokpal search committee? The government, through the DoPT, has usurped its powers,” Mr Jaitley wrote in a Twitter post.

BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said, “The Congress wants to appoint a Lokpal while they are in power as their cases will go to the Lokpal. They want to do it now so that they can get some relief. But it is clear that no one likes the manner in which things are being done.”

The eight-member search panel is mandated to prepare a panel of persons to be considered by the selection panel headed by the PM for appointment of the chairperson and members of Lokpal. The selection panel has as members the Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of the Opposition in the LS, Chief Justice of India or a judge nominated by him, and an eminent jurist nominated by the President or any other member.