New Delhi, Monday, January 31, 2011: Embattled Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas today side-stepped questions on his continuance in office in the wake of a corruption case against him, saying he was still the CVC.

“I am still the CVC. The matter is in court. So no comments,” Thomas told reporters here.

The Supreme Court is hearing a PIL by NGO, Centre for Public Interest, represented by Advocate Prashant Bhushan, questioning the legality of the CVC’s appointment by a three-member selection committee under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The apex court has fixed February three as the next day of hearing in the matter.

Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha has said she had expressed her dissent over the selection of Thomas, a 1973 batch IAS officer, on the ground that he was an accused in the Palmolien scam in Kerala.

(News agency)