Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

House panel irked by official's absence

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 18. The Assembly Estimates Committee, which is looking into the alleged irregularities in the banning of the "Abhayarab" anti-rabies vaccine, has taken strong exception to the Principal Secretary's (Finance) failure to make available documents sought by the panel.

The eight-member panel, chaired by E. T. Muhammed Basheer, which held a sitting here on Wednesday, was also irked by the Government official's absence at the meeting in spite of being given prior notice.

The member, K. C. Joseph, told The Hindu that the discussion of the issue could not make any headway because of the absence of the principal official concerned even though the Health Secretary, the Director of Health Services and the State Drugs Controller were present at the meeting.

The panel was irked by the explanation by the additional finance secretary that the file could not be produced as the Principal Secretary was busy with discussion pertaining to the Finance Commission. Moreover, the details of the finance inspection wing report had been widely reported in the media more than two months ago, the panel observed.

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