The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Mani: Cabinet lacks collective responsibility

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Thursday, Dec 14, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Mani: Cabinet lacks collective responsibility

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani on Wednesday alleged that the Achuthanandan Cabinet had no collective responsibility with Ministers refusing to obey the Chief Minister. Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Mani said the communication gap between the Ministers and the Chief Minister was increasing by the day.

He said the State Government had violated constitutional provisions in entrusting the Resident Commissioner in Delhi to sign the Asian Development Bank loan papers.

Under Article 299 (1), all agreements, orders were signed in the name of the Governor by his authorised representatives. The Chief Secretary or the heads of respective department issues all Government orders in the name of the Governor. The Government's act had rendered the loan agreement void without any legal standing.

He said the Government had also violated the business rules as laid out under Article 166 of the Constitution. This article stipulates any expenditure above Rs.20 lakh would require the approval of the Cabinet.

He asserted that the Rs.1,087-crore ADB loan for which the Government was a guarantor, did not have Cabinet approval.

Mr. Mani also criticised the LDF for opposing the Goonda Ordinance promulgated by the UDF Government.

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