Former central vigilance commissioner (CVC) P J Thomas has moved the Delhi high court for a stay on the appointment of the new CVC. Thomas's lawyer Will Matthews filed a writ petition in the high court on Tuesday seeking the stay on the grounds that the former CVC's appeal for reprsentation to president Pratibha Patil is pending and the government, therefore, can not appoint his successor.

Thomas filed the appeal after his appointment to the post was anulled by the supreme court on March 3. A three-judge constitutional bench of the apex court headed by chief justice S H Kapadia had ordered his removal as there were charges of corruption standing against him. Matthews, who submitted the writ on the former CVC's behalf, told Governancenow that the representation was sought from the president as the the three-bench judge hearning was in violation of the constitution which calls for hearing by a five-member bench in such cases.

The president is yet to accord Thomas a representation on the issue. His counsel, therefore, has moved to stall defence secretary Pradeep Kumar's appointment to the post, which is scheduled for Thursday.

The petition is still in the filing stage, Matthews said.