THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said that the Government will order a detailed probe into the allegations against former Public Works Minister P.J. Joseph without loss of time.

In his weekly column in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) organ Deshabhimani on Thursday, Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out that Mr. Joseph himself had sought an inquiry by a sitting judge into the whole affair to clear his name. The Chief Minister said Mr. Joseph had sought the judicial inquiry when submitting his resignation, but he had pointed out to him then and there that the Government was unlikely to get the services of a sitting judge for such a probe.

Mr. Achuthanandan said it was gratifying that Mr. Joseph had submitted his resignation without any delay. "When I pointed out to him that the observations in the IG's report were serious and that follow-up action would be necessary, he expressed his readiness to resign though he had objections to the conclusions in the report," the Chief Minister recalled.

Mr. Joseph, he said, would have the opportunity to prove his innocence. Natural justice could not be denied to him merely because he had become the target of an accusation. But, at the same time, it would be improper for a person under a cloud of suspicion to remain in office. "When I said that follow-up action will be necessary on the basis of the report, he realised that the appropriate thing to do would be to stay away from office and did accordingly and that is widely appreciated," Mr. Achuthanandan noted.

Prompt action

The Chief Minister had no doubt that everybody would approve of the pace with which the Government had responded to the situation. The allegation that Mr. Joseph misbehaved with a woman co-passenger in the aircraft (on August 3) reached the Government as hearsay. Nobody had given a written complaint or informed the Government on the phone about it. But, when the allegation came to light, the woman's husband said that such an incident had taken place. The Government then took the unprecedented measure of ordering a high-level inquiry into the matter.

A message

Mr. Achuthanandan said there was a message in the whole episode. The basic issue here was freedom that women should have. Women must have equal rights as men and had the freedom to live without fear. Women should not be humiliated physically or psychologically at their workplace, while on journey or at their homes.

The Left Democratic Front Government would not countenance attacks in any form against women, he said.

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