The Hindu : Kerala News : Alleged misuse of funds: notice to Antony, Kuttappan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Alleged misuse of funds: notice to Antony, Kuttappan

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, JUNE 9. The Kerala High Court today issued notice to the respondents including the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, and the Minister for Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribes Development, M.A. Kuttappan, on a petition seeking a CBI probe into the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for various Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes development schemes, including a computer training project.

The notice was issued by Justice G. Sasidharan on a petition filed by T.P. Kuttappan, general secretary of the Malavarga Mahajana Sanghom, and others. The Advocate General, M. Ratna Singh, took notice for the Chief Minister and the Minister for Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribes Development.

In a statement, the Government informed the court that as for the allegations regarding the computer training project, a preliminary inquiry had revealed that the Director, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development, had exceeded his power while implementing the project. The Director had been shifted from the department and the matter was referred to the Vigilance Department for a detailed inquiry. The Government also denied all other allegations including the one relating to the award of grant-in aid to the Vinobha Niketan Girls Tribal Hostel, Thiruvananthapuram.The petition had been posted for further hearing on June 14

Create posts

A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, N.K. Sodhi, and Justice P.R. Raman directed the State Government to create 33 posts in the Pollution Control Board within a month.

The Bench issued the directive when a writ petition filed by the Kochi-based Nature Lovers Movement seeking an order to the Government to close down all the industries functioning in the State without the consent of the Board. Last time, the court had directed the Government to consider the proposal of the Board for creating more posts. The counsel for the Board had submitted that the Board had not been able to take effective steps against the polluting industries because there was shortage of manpower. In fact, the Board had requested for 177 posts. Nothing had been done to create the posts.

According to the petitioner, there were as many as 2.17 lakhs industries in the State. However, only 2,250 industries had obtained the consent of the Board. According to the statement filed by the Government, the proposal of the board was being examined by the Finance Department. No formal order could be issued on the issue because of the financial constraints. The proposal of the Board was for creating 33 posts in the district officers in Idukky, Wayand and Kasaragod.

Petition dismissed

The Bench has dismissed a quo warranto writ petition seeking to remove the Finance Minister, K. Sankaranarayanan, from the post for making a speech in Thiruvananthapuram. According to the petitioner, Yehiya of Kollam, while inaugurating a function organised in connection with the World Consumer Protection Day on March 14 in Thiruvananthapuram, the Mr. Sankaranarayanan had said that if any attempts were made to punish those who indulged in adulteration of food articles, he would not be able to remain as MinisterAccording to him the Minister had violated his oath of office.

Bail denied

Justice G. Sasidharan dismissed a petition filed by Abdul Latheef, accused no. 98 seeking bail in the Marad massacre case.

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