New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI): The Selection Committee meeting to chose Central Vigilance Commissioner in September last year did discuss the issue of Palmolein case against P J Thomas, Home Minister P Chidambaram said today but parried a question whether a ''chargesheeted'' person should have been appointed. 

Addressing a press conference, he was happy to agree with the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj that the Committee discussed the issue of a pending case against Thomas before he was named the CVC.

"We did discuss the names of the panel. In fact, the bulk of the time (of discussion) was regarding P J Thomas and Palmolein case. She (Swaraj) made her points, the other members (PM and HM) of the Committee made their points.

"It was brought to the notice of the Committee during the discussion that although the case was registered, no sanction of prosecution was granted by the NDA government from December 1999 to May, 2004 and by the UPA government subsequently," Chidambaram said.

When the trial of the case was stayed by the Supreme Court between 2007 and 2008, the Central Vigilance Commission had held that no case was made against Thomas and Jiji Thompson, another IAS official. Then Thomas was granted vigilance clearance (for appointment as Secretary in the Government), he said.

"There could not have been a discussion for several minutes without bringing these facts before the Committee. There could not have been a disagreement without a discussion," the Home Minister said.

Citing a statement of the Attorney General that when the apex court had put a specific question whether papers and files relating to the case against Thomas were "circulated" during the meeting on September three, the AG had said "I had said the papers and files were not circulated."

"It was never stated (by the AG) that there was no discussion on the case against Thomas," Chidambaram said quoting the Attorney General."I am happy to agree with the Leader of Opposition that the matter was discussed," the Minister said.

When a questioner asked how the government could have appointed a "corrupt" man facing a chargesheet to the post of CVC, he shot back saying "I respect your right to hold a point of view similarly you should also respect our point of view. The matter is actively subjudice."Chidambaram prefaced his reply to the question on Thomas saying he was "reluctant" to answer it because the matter was pending before the Supreme Court.
"I am very reluctant to answer the question not because the question is wrong or I have no answer but because I was taught and trained to respect the rule of sub judice.
"I am horrified that cases that are being actively heard by the courts of law are being discussed widely by  political leaders and media. I am disappointed that the courts are not pulling up people. I am answering (this question) reluctantly and with a great sense of disappointment," Chidambaram said.

Last week during a Supreme Court hearing, the AG's statement that the material relating to Thomas' case was not placed before the three-member Selection Committee headed by the Prime Minister had created a controversy.

Swaraj had said the government was lying in the apex court and that she would file an affidavit explaining her dissent about Thomas in view of the case against him.