Sidhu wakes up to dignity of office, quits as PPSC chief

In his letter dated August 12, Sidhu alleged he was being implicated. ‘‘Although I have been falsely implicated in various criminal cases of grave offences, the truth/falsehood of the same is under trial in the courts concerned,’’ he said.

He said while he had to prove his ‘‘innocence to get my honour restored, I do not wish to embroil the high office of chairman of PPSC in any unseemly further controversy’’. Sidhu’s six-year term was to end next month.

The Supreme Court had on Monday issued notice to Sidhu on a presidential reference seeking his removal from the post. But before the bench issued the notice after hearing Solicitor General Harish Salve, counsel for Sidhu K.T. Tulsi stated he wanted to resign from the post on his own.

The Supreme Court had told PPSC chairman’s counsel his client was free to do whatever he wanted to and an affidavit to that effect could be filed before the court by Monday next when the case would come up for hearing.

The President had forwarded for inquiry through a reference the letter of Punjab Governor J.F.R. Jacob levelling allegations of misconduct and malpractices and seeking his immediate suspension and removal by taking action under article 317(1) of the Constitution.