New Delhi, Nov 24: A day after Justice K Venkataswami quit as Tehelka probe head and chairman of an appellate body following an uproar in Parliament, government tonight decided to accept his resignation from both the posts and seek appointment of a new judge to continue with the inquiry into the expose on fictitious defence deals.

This was decided at a high-level 90-minute meeting presided by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters that "government has decided to accept Justice Venkataswami`s resignation from the Tehelka panel and as chairman of authority on advance ruling in customs and excise department."

He said that government would write to Chief Justice of India requesting him to select a new judge so that the Tehelka probe could continue.

"Government will appoint a new judge once it receives the name from the Chief Justice," Mahajan said.
The meeting was attended by deputy prime minister L K Advani, defence minister George Fernandes, law minister K Jana Krishnamurthi, BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley, parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan and Attorney General Soli Sorabji.

Venkataswami, in his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, had stated that he was "distressed to learn an issue has been raised in Parliament regarding my assignment as chairperson of the authority for advance rulings, customs and central excise and aspersions have been cast on me."

Bureau Report