Kerala - Kochi

Official exempted from personal appearance

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dispensed with the personal appearance of Neela Gangadharan, Additional Chief Secretary to the Cooperative Department, in a contempt of court case.

Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishan passed the order on a petition filed by the Additional Chief Secretary. In her petition she “deeply regrets and sincerely apologises” for the lapses committed by the office of the Under Secretary. The judge had earlier directed her and an Under Secretary Hrishikesan Nair to appear in person on October 14. The court had also directed them to show cause why action under the Contempt of Court Act should not be taken against them and why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against them.

The court had passed the directives on a petition filed by P.K. Thomas, secretary in charge of the Anapanthy Service Cooperative Bank, Kannur. He was refused promotion to the post of secretary on the ground that he did not have the required qualification. The court had directed the government to consider the request on a petition filed by Mr. Thomas. However, the Additional Chief Secretary and the Under Secretary passed a one-line order rejecting his request. The Additional Chief Secretary said in her petition that she had not seen the order. As per the Secretariat Manual, the under secretaries usually issued communications in the name of the Secretaries. She pointed out that the government had now decided to withdraw the order and to consider the application afresh.

A Bench comprising Justice P.R. Raman and Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair on Tuesday reserved its order on a report filed by the Ombudsman for Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards regarding the selection of Melsanthis of the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples.

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