Former Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam may be made governor of `important' state

NEW DELHI: Former Chief Justice of India, P Sathasivam, who retired in April, is being considered for an ‘important’ gubernatorial assignment, according to sources aware of the matter. The former CJI had a meeting with a top aide of PM Narendra Modi, according to these sources.
When contacted by ETat Tamil Nadu House in Delhi, where he is staying, Justice Sathasivam refused to comment. Justice Sathasivam, had earlier indicated he was open to accepting any position befitting the stature of a former CJI, including the chairmanship National Human Rights Commission or Lokpal, if the new government were to make an offer.

Meanwhile, according to the people cited earlier, the NDA government is also seriously considering the names of former Supreme Court Bar Association president MN Krishnamani and former Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee, for appointed as governors or to other important positions.

In 2008, Krishnamani, had appeared for parties, opposing the Sethusamudaram Shipping canal project.

Two affidavits filed by the UPA government in that case, which questioned the existence of Lord Rama and a man-made bridge “Ram Setu” or Adams Bridge, had generated a huge controversy.

The NDA government had cleared appointment of Ram Naik as the governor of Uttar Pradesh and Kesri Nath Tripathi as governor of West Bengal. The two have assumed charge in the respective states. Other BJP leaders appointed as governors include OP Kohli and Balramji Das Tandon, who have been appointed governors of Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, respectively.

While HR Bhardwaj (Karnataka) and Devanand Konwar (Tripura), retired recently, Lt Governor of Puducherry Virendra Kataria was removed by the government.

The NDA government is also focusing on other states, where governors appointed by the UPA government have dug in their heels and have refused to resign. These include K Sankaranarayanan (Maharashtra), Sheila Dikshit (Kerala), Jaganath Pahadia (Haryana) and Shivraj Patil (Punjab).