Not apt for former CJI to become governor: Congress

Kozhikode: Voice of dissent has grown among the Congress top leaders over the Central government’s decision to appoint former chief justice P Sathasivam governor of the State.

Replying to queries over the issue by the reporters here on Monday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said he was yet to be informed by the Union government about the decision.

“It is a procedural norm that the Chief Minister is consulted with by the Union Home Ministry before appointing the Governor. I am yet to receive any such communication. I will express my stand when that happens,” Chandy said.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the decision of the BJP government to appoint a former CJI Governor of a State was strange.

“Chief Justice of India is an esteemed post. Hence, to appoint a person who held that post in the past as a Governor is a question of propriety,” Chennithala told the media in Kozhikode.

The Congress top brass has been expressing their disagreement following reports that P Sathasivam would replace Sheila Dikshit who last week announced that she is quitting. There has been no official announcement of the new governor's name yet.

KPCC chief V M Sudheeran had also expressed a similar view. "It's the chief justice of the country that swears in the president of our country. After that a person in that post going to serve under the president does not augur well," he said.

"I feel this aspect should be open to debate by all, including constitutional experts. I do not think it's apt," he added.

Sathasivam, 65, who hails from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, was the 40th chief justice of India, holding office from July 2013 to April 2014.