Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday defended his honorary legal advisor M.K. Damodaran, who appeared for the controversial lottery baron Santiago Martin in a case in the High Court saying that he can take up any case as he is serving in the post without taking any remuneration.
While replying to an allegation raised by Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala in the Assembly during a submission, Mr Vijayan said that as an advocate Mr Damodaran could take up any case he wanted. Mr Chennithala countered it by saying that what was the guarantee that Mr Damodaran would not appear for the accused in the sensational Perumbavur dalit woman murder case.
Later, at a press conference KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said that the CM had committed a serious mistake by justifying his chief legal advisor who appeared for cases against the government. The Chief Minister should be ready to expel Mr Damodaran without clinging on to technical justifications or he himself should relinquish the post on his own, Mr Sudheeran said. Those who engaged in illegal activities were getting a kind of protection when the Chief Minister’s advisor himself was appearing for them against the government, he said.
Now, it is CM who defends
In a role reversal, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has ended up defending the lawyers who are supposed to defend the government. Despite serious allegations and accusations of conflict of interest, the chief minister has gone ahead and defended his legal advisor M K Damodaran and Director General of Prosecutions Manjeri Sreedharan Nair who is facing a case.
The chief minister has categorically stated that it was left to Damodaran's discretion to choose the cases that he wanted to represent. Coming as it is from Pinarayi Vijayan who as CPM state secretary had unleashed a scathing attack on Congress spokesman Abhishekh Manu Singhvi six years ago, has raised eyebrows.
The Chief Minister had then said: “By appearing in the case, Singhvi has reflected the Congress stand on the issue. From now on if anyone wants to protest against lottery mafia, they should sit on a dharna in front of AICC office.” Now his opponents are using the same logic to target him which many believe is justified. While there is no doubt about the CM’s personal integrity, the big question is can the same be guaranteed in case of those close to him?
It goes without saying that Pinarayi will face uncomfortable questions every time Damodaran appeared in controversial cases. While there is nothing wrong in Damodaran appearing in such cases in his personal capacity as a lawyer, but being the honorary legal advisor to the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will find it difficult to draw a dividing line.
It is not enough to say that appearing in cases was a personal choice of Damodaran. Like “justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done”, CM will have to walk the talk on the promises that his government would ensure transparency and a corruption free administration.
