THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The differences between Lok Ayukta Justice Pius C. Kuriakose and Upa Lok Ayukta Justice K.P. Balachandran have once again come in the open with the Lok Ayukta denying the reports in a section of media that he had exonerated officials in the Pattoor land scam case.
According to sources, the reports that appeared on Friday were the observations of the Upa Lok Ayukta to which the Lok Ayukta did not agree. Hence, it was not legally binding. It may be recalled that there were serious differences between the Lok Ayukta and the Upa Lok Ayukta while considering the bar bribery case also.
A statement from the Lok Ayukta said that no order exonerating any person was issued by Justice Pius C. Kuriakose in the Pattoor land case. “An order was issued on March 21 directing the district collector to take over 12.279 cents. That order was signed and approved by both the Lok Ayukta and the Upa Lok Ayukta and is legally binding on the parties. Along with that, separate orders were also issued by the Lok Ayukta and the Upa Lok Ayukta respectively laying down their respective views on the matter.”
“In his order, Justice Kuriakose specifically stated that he was not going into the merits of the case at this early stage as the trial was yet to start. As far as the Division Bench is concerned both the Lok Ayukta and the Upa Lok Ayukta must put their signatures in an order for it to become effective and binding. As such, the separate orders are not legally binding,” said the statement.
