Constition dictates governance and not religion
Supreme Court has dealt a body blow to central government by quashing the appointment of P. J Thomas. Catholic Church is highly perturbed from this verdict. Same Catholic Church had termed appointment of Thomas as matter of pride for them.
When opposition leader Sushma Swaraj had put a dissent note on the appointment of Thomas even then a certain section had tried to portray it in communalist colour. Though, Sushma Swaraj had opposed due to fact that Thomas was involved in Palmolin Oil scam while he was food and civil supply secretary in Kerala. Government had completely ignored her suggestion showing arrogance and gave logics to defend their decision. Centre had even made this issue as matter of prestige for them.
People even raised fingers on the decision of BJP to boycott oath ceremony of P. J Thomas. People even said since Thomas is Christian so BJP is not able to digest it. Church also raised an inside campaign to support Thomas. P. J Thomas is 1973 batch IAS officer. Some of the members in his family are at respectable positions in the Catholic Church. Though, his image has been of an honest officer barring accusation of palmolin oil scam. He has also been chief-secretary of Kerala. Thomas has also hold respectable positions as secretary in telecom ministry, Ministry of information and broadcasting, parliamentary affairs ministry and many other posts in state departments.
It became clear that government is trying to hide the facts in this case. CVC is highly sensitive post and recruitment of accused on this post raised many questions. Government even said that judiciary has no right to interfere in the normal routine work of government.
Reaction of the church on this decision is surprising. The official reaction on the official website of Catholic Church is- Catholic civil servant resigns and other is church people disappointed over quashing of CVC appointment-(www.indiancatholic.in)
Post of CVC is apolitical. Church should be aware of the fact that this is a constitutional post and constitution does not favour any cast or religion. Catholic Church is trying to convince people that it is Hindu BJP that is behind this game and which forced Thomas to ultimately leave the post.
Church is constantly saying that there is anti-Christian bias in the bureaucracy and to the some extent it has crept in judiciary. The way church has correlated post of CVC with Christianity is really daring as even Sangh cannot dare to do this. Such thinking of church will prove detrimental for the social set-up of country in times to come. Church has still time to retrospect and it should reject such thinking. Administrative and judicial set-up in the country is still functions above caste, religion and community.
Supreme Court has quashed the appointment of Thomas as facts and due procedure was not followed in this case. It did not do that because of the BJP campaign. Though, Thomas has resigned from the post but matter is far from over as its voice will be heard in the political corridors of Kerala during the elections.
R. L Francis
President
Poor Christians Liberation Movement (PCLM)