Govt feels CVC should quit on his own

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Embarrassed by the developmentsin CVC case in the Supreme Court today, the government appearsto be veering round to the view that controversial P J Thomasshould voluntarily resign from the post of CVC.

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily met Prime MinisterManmohan Singh today hours after the Supreme Court was told byAttorney General G E Vahanvati that the Committee whichselected Thomas was not aware of charges against him in thetwo-decade-old Palmolein oil import case.

Later Vahanvati clarified that, "It was never stated byme that this matter pertaining to Palmolein Oil case was notdiscussed by the members of the committee (headed by the PrimeMinister)."

Officials said the meeting between Moily and the PrimeMinister did not relate to the issue of CVC.

Highly placed sources in the government said that giventhe turn of events and controversies surrounding Thomas, itwould be better if he voluntarily stepped down from hisoffice, to which he was appointed on September 7 last year, toavoid a situation in which the apex court might passstrictures or even strike down his appointment.

The other course, the sources said, would be to initiatethe process of his removal through Presidential reference.

The government came under sharp attack from theOpposition after the AG''s statement before the Supreme Court.