The News Minute | September 1, 2014 | 11:35 am ISTUnion government’s reported move to appoint former CJI P. Sathasivam as the Governor of Kerala has come under severe criticism from Kerala Congress and the All India Bar Association (AIBA). The 40th Chief Justice of India, Justice P. Sathasivam had retired on 26 April. His name has been doing the rounds as a probable appointee to the post of Kerala Governor after Sheila Dikshit resigned. However, serious concerns have been raised to this probable move. The AIBA Chairman, Addish C. Aggarwala, said that the move was ‘ill-advised and unethical,’ The Indian Express reported. “How can a former CJI be appointed Governor? What kind of a signal is the government trying to send? The BJP, when it was in Opposition, had repeatedly said it was opposed to post-retirement jobs for retired judges. What has changed now?” Aggarwala said. He also pointed to the fact that Justice Sathasivam was a candidate to be appointed as the Lokpal and by trying to make him a Governor, the Union government was trying to subvert the institution of Lokpal. He also said that the AIBA will write to the President of India to oppose the appointment. Kerala Congress President Mr V.M. Sudheeran, however, has given a constitutional angle to the reported move. He said that it was improper that a CJI, who administers oath to the President, to be working under the President as a Governor. “Everyone should think whether appointing a former CJI as Governor is right,” he said. Removal and appointment of Governors of various states has become a major controversy in the BJP-led Union government. Karnataka Chief Minister Mr Sidarammiah has expressed unhappiness for not being consulted before the decision to appoint Mr Vajubhai Vala, who is to be sworn in on Monday, as the Governor of Karnataka. “It is customary that the Chief Minister is consulted before appointing the new Governor; they have done this (appointment) without consulting me,” the Karnataka CM told The Indian Express.