Quo warranto: To restrain a person from holding a public office to which he is not entitled.
Q. Supreme Court rejected the appointment of PJ Thomas as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner by which of the following writ?- Published on 16 Nov 15a. Habeas Corpus
b. Mandamus
c. Certiorari
d. Prohibition
e. Quo warranto
ANSWER: Quo warranto
- PJ Thomas was appointed as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner in September 2010, on the recommendation of a High Powered Committee (HPC) headed by the Prime Minister of India.
- The selection of the new CVC was marked by controversies, after Sushma Swaraj, who was part of three-member selection committee, objected to the choice of Thomas, citing the pending chargesheet against him.
- A public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme Court of India by Centre for Public Interest Litigation and India Rejuvenation Initiative.
- On March 3, 2011, the Supreme Court quashed the appointment of Thomas as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, noting that the HPC did not consider the relevant materials on the pending chargesheet. Subsequently, Mr Thomas resigned.
- Mr Thomas was Telecom Secretary till he was made Central Vigilance Commissioner.
- The Supreme Court, which is also monitoring the CBI's investigation into the spectrum scam, suggested that it would be inappropriate for Mr Thomas to preside over an inquiry that could subject his own actions in the Telecom Ministry to scrutiny.
