NEW DELHI, July 22 � Amid furore created by AIADMK members in the Parliament for the second day running, the Government today admitted that a Supreme Court collegium during the UPA rule had recommended extension of a judge in Tamil Nadu, who was under corruption cloud, reports PTI.
�Name the DMK Minister at the Centre,� shouted the agitated AIADMK members, who stormed the Well of the Lok Sabha as they were not satisfied with the response given by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, forcing two adjournments of the House.
The Rajya Sabha also saw a disruption on the issue, with AIADMK and DMK members clashing on the matter when it assembled for the day, leading to a brief adjournment.
Responding to the AIADMK members� demands in the Lok Sabha, Prasad said in 2003, the collegium had �certain reservations� and had made some enquiries and decided that the case of this judge should not be taken up.
But later during the UPA rule, a clarification was sought by the Prime Minister�s Office (PMO) as to why he should not be recommended. The collegium again said he should not have been recommended at all.
Later, the Justice Department of the Law Ministry wrote a note to the collegium following which it said that his case can be considered for some extension, Prasad said, adding the matter stood there thereafter.
The Law Minister said the judge has since retired and was no more now. The judges of the collegium have also retired.
Quoting Supreme Court�s observation in Shanti Bhushan case, he remarked the �clock cannot be put back�.
The controversy erupted yesterday over an allegation by former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju, who is due to retire as Chairman of Press Council of India in October, that three ex-Chief Justices of India made �improper compromises� during the UPA rule in allowing a judge in Tamil Nadu under corruption cloud to continue in office.
In the Rajya Sabha, when it assembled for the day, AIADMK members led by V Maitreyan raised the issue, but they could not be heard amid counter attacks by the DMK members.
