Kerala - Kochi

Order to shift seven convicts from Viyyur

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday ordered shifting of seven life convicts who received the support of leaders of a political party in the ruling front, from the Viyyur central jail in Thrissur to an open prison at Cheemeni in Kasaragod. Justice R Basant issued the direction while initiating suo motu proceedings on the basis of a report by the Thrissur district judge.

According to the report, the prisoners were getting heavy support from leaders of a ruling political party. They misbehaved with jail officials and caused inconvenience to the officials who were unable to control them due to external influence. The seven prisoners—Sumohan, Sajeevan, Surendran, P. Sajeevan, Kunhikrishnan, Sanoj and Pradeepan—are serving life impr isonment. The report pointed out that several inmates of the Viyyur prison had sent many complaints against them to the district judge.

The seven were among the prisoners of Kannur central jail who had been transferred to Viyyur on an earlier directive of the High Court. They had been transferred on November 25, 2007.

Ombudsman for Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards R. Bhaskaran informed a Division Bench of the High Court that the rift between the Travancore Devaswom Board Commissioner and the board was continuing despite attempts by the court to solve the issue.

In its annual report, the Ombudsman said that the board had transferred officers working under the commissioner. This would seriously affect the morale of the employees. The report also pointed out that the government had not so far deputed a special tahsildar and a surveyor to the Cochin Devaswom Board as directed by the High Court. The report said the government had not appointed sufficient police officials under the Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, under the Travancore Devaswom Board.

The Ombudsman suggested that the in-service course conducted by the Cochin Devaswom Board be introduced for the staff of the TDB as well. The Ombudsman has filed 87 reports before the High Court since it assumed office in December 1, 2007.Of which 40 cases were referred to by the High Court. The report included suggestions to improve the facilities at Sabarimala.

The Ombudsman observed that there was tremendous improvement in the matter of arrangements made at Sabarimala this year for the Mandalm-Makaravilakku festival.

First accused in the Sister Abhaya murder case Thomas Kottur on Wednesday filed a bail petition before the High Court. He said he was falsely implicated in the case. He contended that the medico-legal experts had pointed out that death of Abhaya was due to “suicidal drowning.” The CBI had used third-degree methods to create false evidence against the petitioner.

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