New Delhi, Feb 28: Justice S N Phukan, inquiring into corruption in defence deals exposed by the Tehelka news portal, today said he will continue from where justice K Venkataswami left, and fixed March 31 as the next date of hearing. While rejecting the portal's submission that it was not ''physically, financially and morally'' possible to appear before the new-appointed commission, justice Phukan asked the Tehelka counsel to file an application in this regard. Justice Phukan also said he will take up for consideration on Monday any fresh application filed in the matter.

Justice Phukan, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, was appointed on January 4 to head the commission after justice Venkataswami tendered his resignation.

It is reported that justice Vekataswami had recorded the evidence of all the witnesses. And the commission was about to pass its interim order on certain issues.

Justice Venkataswami tendered his resignation on November 23, 2002 when the Opposition Congress raked up a controversy about his accepting another post. A few months before his resignation, he was appointed chairman of the Authority on Advance Ruling on Customs and Excise (AARC) by the government with the approval of the chief justice of India.

Bureau Report