Thiruvananthapuram: The Lok Ayukta on Thursday admitted a petition filed by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala against health minister K. K. Shylaja and three others in connection with the irregularities in the appointment of T. B. Suresh as a member of the Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights. The Bench comprising Lok Ayukta Pius C. Kuriakose and Upa Lok Ayukta K. P. Balachandran also issued notices to the minister and other three respondents – Mr Suresh, former member Shyamala Devi and the social justice department secretary. They were directed to appear on September 14.
The secretary was also directed to submit all files related to his appointment. Mr.Chennithala alleged in the petition that the illegal attempts made by the minister to appoint Mr Suresh, a CPM man from Wayanad, amounted to nepotism. The minister allegedly extending the last date for applying was to facilitate Suresh’s appointment. He urged in the petition that Ms Shylaja should be declared unfit to continue as a minister owing to nepotism by invoking the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act. Sources said the Lokayukta admitted the petition after conducting a preliminary enquiry and found prima facie substance in it.
