New Delhi: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had pushed for making permanent a Madras High Court judge, who has been referred to as corrupt by former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju, claimed reports. BJP had now demanded for the clarification from Manmohan Singh over this matter.
The PMO of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had put pressure on the Supreme Court collegium to make permanent Justice S Ashok Kumar. The SC collegiums headed by the then chief justice RC Lahoti in June 2005.
The recommendation came after the SC collegium, in a unanimous decision, chose to end the services of Justice Kumar after he served as additional judge for two years at the Madras HC.
The PMO wrote about appointment of permanent judges in the Madras HC In a letter to the collegium on June 17, 2005.
Report said that the note written by PMO stated, “The Prime Minister has directed that clarifications be sought by the Ministry of Law and Justice as to why the names of Justice S Ashok Kumar and Justice N R Kannadasan have not been recommended. The proposal be resubmitted (to the collegium) with the clarification.”
The said judge was eventually given an extension under government pressure.
The then law minister HR Bhardwaj has, however, claimed that the extension to Justice Kumar was given by the collegium and that the government had no role in the decision.
However Manmohan Singh without referring to Katju’s allegations only said Tuesday that former law minister Bhardwaj had explained everything and he had nothing to add.
Senior BJP leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu today said, “Former PM must come out and clarify whether he acted under pressure or not, this will enhance the image of judiciary.”
Bureau Report
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