Alleged breach of norms in Govt. Pleader postings

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 14. The KC(J) general secretary, Mr. P.C. George, MLA, has alleged gross violation of norms and denial of opportunity to Dalits in the appointment of Government Pleaders.

Mr. George told a news conference here today that the Government had also mislead the High Court about the Cabinet decision on appointment of Pleaders. He accused the Law Minister, Mr. K.M. Mani, of having misused his powers to make these appointments and demanded his resignation for having failed to do justice to all sections in the election of Government Pleaders.

The Government had initially appointed eight Pleaders. On August 2, the Cabinet selected 23 persons as Government Pleaders and 25 as Senior Government Pleaders. Newspapers reported this on August 3 listing the names of the chosen persons. Following this a public interest petition was filed before the High Court alleging breach of norms in the choice of Government Pleaders.

Arguing on behalf of the Government, the Additional Advocate General told the court that eight of the persons mentioned in the news reports had not been appointed. But the fact of the matter was that the Government had just deferred giving posting orders to the persons concerned. That being so, it was a clear case of misrepresentation of facts by the Government before the court, Mr. George said.

The KC(J) leader pointed out that under the Kerala Government Law Officers Appointment and Conditions of Service and Conduct of Cases Rules, at least two out of every 10 Government Pleaders should belong to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and those being appointed as Government Pleaders and Senior Government Pleaders should have practised in the High Court for three and five years respectively. But among those appointed by the UDF Government, there were persons who had never appeared before the High Court, who started practice in the High Court just a few months ago and even some who had come from the Gulf to take up the appointment.

The list of 56 should have contained at least 12 Dalits. By denying the Dalits their rightful share of representation, the Antony Government has breached the Constitutional guarantees and betrayed the Dalits. If Mr. Mani was not willing to step down on his own, the Chief Minister should divest him of the Law portfolio and make the appointments afresh adhering to the relevant norms, Mr. George said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : MT to head Kalamandalam
Next     : 'Canal Walk' sparks off a row in Corpn. Council