Ex CJI Sathasivam appointed Kerala governor despite controversy

Former Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam was appointed Kerala Governor even as the controversy about his appointment refused to die down. While former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit was accorded a farewell after resigning as Kerala governor, Sathasivam spoke to the media for the first time since the controversy. Dismissing all allegations, Sathasivam insisted that "There is no controversy at all with my appointment. If the government had considered my appointment when I was the chief justice, then it was justified, but I retired four months ago".

The former CJI told news agency PTI, "I did not accept any arbitration work for any corporate entity after my retirement." Unlike his other colleagues he said that he did not do any business.

He dubbed as "completely wrong" the allegation that he was made Governor for his verdict in a case involving BJP President Amit Shah. "It is not legal to file a second FIR," he said and stressed that "no one was freed and we (as judges) do not see whether it was a politician or otherwise".

As for the criticism that came from his former colleagues in the judiciary he said this was not a political appointment but a constitutional post.

Congress had lambasted the decision to appoint Sathasivam as Governor calling it "inappropriate." The Kerala congress had even hinted it as whether the BJP led government was "pleased" with his judgement in the Amit Shah case.

Sathasivam will be sworn in by Acting Chief Justice of Kerala High Court Ashok Bhushan at a function at the Raj Bhavan tomorrow.