THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Inspector General of Police B. Sandhya will conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegation against Public Works Minister P.J. Joseph that he misbehaved with a woman co-passenger on board an aircraft on August 3.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who ordered the inquiry, told mediapersons here on Wednesday that he had asked the police officer to submit her report within ten days. He had not considered seeking the Minister's resignation at this stage. "The question does not arise now. Further action will be taken on the basis of the inquiry report."

Mr. Achuthanandan said that though the woman had not lodged a formal complaint, he took her husband's complaint seriously. He did not find anything inexplicable about the allegation.

He said that though the issue was discussed at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, the decision to order the inquiry was his own.

It may be recalled that Mr. Joseph, who denied the allegation, had himself called for an inquiry by a woman IPS officer into the incident to clear his name, after the complaint became public. Leaders of the Left Democratic Front had discussed the issue at various levels. The Opposition was clamouring for an inquiry and resignation of the Minister.

The incident occurred on a flight from Chennai to Kochi during take-off from Chennai.

He said that the Government decided to increase the salary ceiling for bonus to Government employees from Rs.5,000 to Rs.5,500 a month. Employees whose salaries (total of basic pay, personal pay, special pay, special allowance, personal allowance and five per cent dearness allowance) did not exceed Rs.5,500 as on March 31, 2006 would be eligible for bonus. Others would get festival allowance.

The Chief Minister said the bonus and festival allowance rates would remain at last year's levels of Rs.2,500. Festival allowance to various categories of employees would be the same as last year.This ranges from Rs.275 to Rs.1,000. Pensioners and family pensioners would be eligible for special festival allowance of Rs.275 and Rs.175 respectively. Ex-gratia pensioners would get Rs.100.

Employees would also be eligible for a festival advance of Rs.500, which would be deducted from salary in the coming months in five instalments. There would not be any change in rate of bonus to employees of closed public sector units.

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