Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112755520100.htm

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Administrative tribunal to be set up

Special Correspondent

Jacob Punnoose who has been appointed DGP in charge of law and order.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to set up a State administrative tribunal on the lines of the Central Administrative Tribunal to decide on complaints from government employees on service matters.

Announcing this after a meeting of the Cabinet here, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said Thiruvananthapuram would be the headquarters of the tribunal. Formation of a State-level tribunal was a long-standing demand of employees’ organisations.

The Chief Minister said that women protection officers would be appointed in all 14 districts as part of the implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the Centre would be requested to prepare a project for rehabilitation of beedi workers.

New fire stations would be started at Wadakkancherry, Mannarkkad, Nadapuram, Peravur, Peringome and Poovar. The Cabinet sanctioned 80 posts for the stations.

The Cabinet decided to appoint Jacob Punnoose as Director-General of Police in charge of law and order. He replaces Raman Srivastava who is going on deputation to the Centre. Mr. Punnoose has been working as Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. He has also served as chairman of the Kerala Police Act Review Committee, which submitted its report early this year.

The Cabinet decided to form an India Reserve Battalion in Kerala. It sanctioned 1,007 posts for it. Fifty additional posts of sub-inspectors will be created for manning the emigration counters at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport.