Kochi: Kerala High Court has asked the state to implement its earlier order to fill 25 per cent of all the daily wage employment vacancies in the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) with abkari workers registered with the Abkari Welfare Fund Board. Justice A. Muhammed Mustaque directed to implement the order within two months and also asked the Bevco to follow the government order for all future vacancies. The petitions were filed by the Kerala State Kallu Chethu Vyavasaya Videsha Madya Thozhilali Union and others who had lost their employment due to the ban on arrack with effect from April 1, 1996.
Govt flayed for not utilising tribal funds
Kerala High Court on Tuesday flayed the government for not utilising the fund allocated for the development of tribal people in Kerala. The court asked the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit on the funds to be made available for the benefit of tribal people and stressed that the right of tribal including their children should be addressed on a war footing.
A division bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Sunil Thomas issued the directive while considering a plea filed by litigant P.D. Joseph who sought a directive to the state government to ensure disbursement of grant provided by the central and state governments to the adivasis.
HC order to bribery probe officer
Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the investigation officer in the bar bribery case against Finance Minister K.M. Mani to form an independent opinion solely based on the evidence collected.
The court issued the directive on a plea filed by CPI MLA V.S. Sunilkumar. According to him, the Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau after registering the FIR had conducted a detailed investigation in the case.
He alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to scuttle the investigation report which had implicated Mr. Mani in the case.
Govt opposes Ganesh plea on Srividya’s assets
The state government filed an affidavit before the Court opposing a plea of Mr K.B. Ganesh Kumar MLA seeking a direction to the state to take over the assets of actor Srividya and hand them over to the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.
According to the government, Mr Ganesh Kumar had no right under the will to transfer the assets in favour of the Academy. However, he can sell it and deposit the money to the society. The state made it clear that it cannot take over the properties and that it has no role to play in the case as it is private.
