Rs 10,000 fine dropped as Advocate General apologises

Kochi: The State Government on Wednesday faced the displeasure of the High Court after it sought more time to produce files relating to the allocation of new plus-two schools. Justice P.R.Ramachandra Menon rapped the Government for not producing files and even went on to impose a fine of Rs 10,000 for wasting the court’s time.

Advocate General K.P.Dandapani later tendered an unconditional apology, pleading that the fine may not be imposed.

The AG submitted that the news channels would discuss the matter in the evening if the court were to impose a fine. The court considered the submission and dropped the order.

The AG submitted that his office had received files only on Wednesday. But the court expressed its displeasure, “This is too much and the State is acting irresponsible, the delay shows the sad state of affairs of the State, the State needs only six hours to bring files from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi”.

The court later granted the State ‘breathing time’ and posted the case to Thursday. The court was considering 80-odd petitions against the decision to allot new schools. The Court had asked the State to allot new schools, following which it allotted 118 schools. But many managements complained against this.