The Supreme Court has set aside the appointment of P.J.Thomas as Central Vigilance Commissioner for his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal. A bench headed by Chief Justice S.H.Kapadia a gave its verdict on a petition by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) challenging his appointment as CVC. The Supreme Court said, his appointment by a high powered panel, did not exist in law. It said, institutional integrity and functioning were more important than personal integrity though both were related. It was incumbent upon the high powered committee to keep in mind the institutional integrity while making the recommendation for the CVC and it should be according to the law. A PTI report quoting his counsel however said that Thomas has not resigned and would consider whether to resign or to file a review petition in the Supreme Court after going through the judgement. Responding to the court ruling, the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh said, he respects the court judgment and will respond to it in Parliament. The Law Minister Mr. M.Veerappa Moily said, the government is not in a position to say anything now as it has to study the verdict. The BJP, Left and the JDU said, the Supreme Court decision was a victory against corruption. The Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi however said the judgement should not be politicised and there should not be any subjective interpretation. Accepting that there was a legal error, he said it has been set right by the Apex's Court's Verdict. Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition in the House, Arun Jaitley demanded a statement from the government on the issue.