New Delhi: After denying any communiqué from the Kerala government on the pending vigilance case against former CVC PJ Thomas, the Centre has now made public a letter from the state which says he was not cleared to serve on central deputation.
The Central Public Information Officer of the Department of Personnel and Training in an RTI response had earlier said no such letter was with them. But during the first appeal, Deputy Secretary RK Mittal overturned the previous reply.
"After going through the relevant papers and official records, it appears that the CPIO was not able to link up the letter with the file concerned. Accordingly, CPIO is directed to refer to file...and provide the relevant information," Mittal said in his order.
After the decision, the letter dated March 11, 2008 from the chief secretary of Kerala objecting to Thomas` deputation to the Centre was provided to activist SC Agrawal.
The communiqué has punctured the claims of DoPT that it was unaware about the ongoing vigilance case against Thomas while short-listing his name for the post of anti-corruption watchdog Central Vigilance Commissioner.
"PJ Thomas, IAS, Chief Secretary to Government (Kerala), had applied for Central Deputation in 1988, but was not selected for appointment. Subsequently after 1992, he had expressed his willingness for central deputation, but was not considered because of ongoing vigilance enquiry/case. Because of this he was not considered so far.”
"The case has not been finalised yet. I may inform that Thomas could not work at the Centre as he was not recommended for the same by the state government," the letter from the chief secretary said.
PTI
