The Hindu : RSP leader seeks probe into decision on bar licence fee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

RSP leader seeks probe into decision on bar licence fee

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 29. The RSP State secretary, T. J. Chandrachoodan, has alleged poll code violation in the March 24 Cabinet decision to nullify the earlier decision to levy differential licence fees on bars and has sought a judicial inquiry into the affair.

At a news conference here today, Prof. Chandrachoodan said that the Cabinet decision, which had superseded its decision on March 17 to levy the differential licence fees, was nothing but a `somersault' to help bar hotel owners. The decision to levy differential licence fees was taken on the advice of the Departments of Finance and Excise. However, the subsequent decision was taken without the knowledge of these departments and without including the item on the agenda of the Cabinet meeting, he said.

CPI(M), CPI

criticised

The RSP State secretary came down heavily on the CPI(M) and CPI for the way the two parties had handled the criticism he had raised about the candidature of the Indian Union Muslim League Rajya Sabha nominee, P. V. Abdul Wahab, and the participation of the Kozhikode district secretaries of the parties in a reception accorded to Mr. Wahab at Kozhikode on Sunday.

The district secretaries had draped Mr. Wahab with shawls at the function. "Wahab was given the reception for his having won as a UDF candidate in the Rajya Sabha poll. Will they do the same in the case of all other victorious UDF candidates," Prof. Chandrachoodan asked, adding that a little more restraint was called for from leaders of the two parties.

On the complaint he had filed with the Chief Electoral Officer regarding Mr. Wahab's candidature, Prof. Chandrachoodan said he had been informed that his complaint was not in order. His information was that the hearing regarding inclusion of Mr. Wahab's name in the voters' list would take place at the Nilambur tahsildar's office on April 1 and that a case relating to the violation of Section 135 of the Customs Act of 1965 by Mr. Wahab in the import of a Mercedes Benz car would come up for hearing before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences), Ernakulam, on March 31. Mr. Wahab himself had admitted to existence of the case in the affidavit he had filed before the Returning Officer for the Rajya Sabha poll, Prof. Chandrachoodan pointed out.

Nomination to dental council

The RSP leader said the issue that he was trying to focus on was not one of law, but of political morality. That the Government cared little for morality was evident also from its decision to nominate to the Indian Dental Council a doctor who had gone abroad in 1985, he said.

The doctor had earlier been sanctioned a dental college at Vamanapuram in Thiruvananthpuram district. The normal practice was to nominate someone serving in Government dental hospitals in the State or nominees of the State-level dental association, he said.

Subsidy to

Infam

Prof. Chandrachoodan alleged that the decision to release Rs. 42 lakhs as subsidy to Infam was intended only to ensure the Revenue Minister, K. M. Mani's son's victory from the Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha constituency.

If the Government did not cancel the decision, the matter would be taken up before the Election Commission, he added.

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