AG clarifies on Thomas issue

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Attorney General G E Vahanvati,who is defending Government''s decision appointing P J Thomasas CVC in the Supreme Court, today came out with aclarification after his submissions created a fluter.

"It was never stated by me that this matter pertaining toPalmolein Oil case was not discussed by the members of thecommittee(headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) and I wishto make that absolutely clear," he told reporters.

Immediately after the end of proceedings before theSupreme Court, the country''s top law officer made thestatement in view of the reports that he informed the courtthat the criminal case was not taken up by the three-memberpanel.

"The query of the court was limited as to what wascirculated along with the agenda paper. That is the onlyquestion that court was asking me and as a matter of fact Idid say that what was discussed and what was not discussed isnot relevant to the query. It may have been discussed I do notknow. There are no details," he said.

Government appeared to have tied itself in knots in theapex court on the appointment of Thomas when it said acorruption case against him was not placed before the panel.

Explaining as to what happened in the proceedings, hesaid the court put a poser to him him, "We are asking you avery limited question as to what was circulated to the membersof the Committee. That is all I was concerned with. Itwas certainly not my intention to say that something (criminalcase) was discussed or not. That was not available in therecords."

Vahanvati, whose statement evoked sharp reaction from BJPsaid, "I am very-very upset that these sort of statements havebeen made that we are trying to mislead the court. The truthof the matter is that this issue did not really arise andthere is no question of trying to mislead the court." PTI DKSAAC ATP VMN