P Sathasivam to be sworn in as Kerala Governor tomorrow

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his cabinet colleagues and senior officials received Sathasivam, who is to be sworn in by Acting Chief Justice of Kerala High Court Ashok Bhushan at a function at the Raj Bhavan on Friday.

Dikshit was given a farewell as she left for New Delhi after demitting office.

Justice Sathasivam, whose appointment has sparked a debate in political and judicial circles, said earlier in the day at his native village in Tamil Nadu that he was confident of discharging his duties well in the light of his experience in the judiciary.

"I did not accept any arbitration work for any corporate entity after my retirement. I wholeheartedly accept this

position of Governor of Kerala," he said.

On reservations voiced by the Bar Association in Kerala about his appointment, Sathasivam said he would talk with its members. He dubbed as "completely wrong" the allegation that he was made Governor for his verdict in a case involving BJP President Amit Shah.

"It is not legal to file a second FIR," he said and stressed that "no one was freed and we (as judges) do not see

whether it was a politician or otherwise".

Sathasivam was on the Supreme Court bench that scrapped the second FIR against Shah in a fake encounter case, saying it was linked to the bigger Sohrabuddin Sheikh killing case and did not need to be separate.

The Congress had flayed the decision to appoint Sathasivam as Governor and wondered whether the government was "pleased" with his judgement in the Amit Shah case.

Dikshit, who took over as Kerala Governor in March, said there had been pressure on her (from the Centre) and she thought it proper to resign to protect the prestige of the constitutional position.

"I thought there was a pressure. Before they do something to the position, which is a higly respectable constitutional position it is better to leave myself," she said on reaching Delhi.