The Hindu : Front Page : Government to seek legal opinion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 04, 2007
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Government to seek legal opinion

Special Correspondent

On demand for Paloli's resignation in the wake of High Court strictures

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan on Tuesday said that a decision on the demand for the resignation of Minister for Local Self-Government Paloli Mohammed Kutty would be taken after consultations with legal experts.

The Chief Minister was talking to the mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting which discussed the issue of High Court strictures against the Minister for contempt of court. However, no decision was taken on resignation as announced by the Chief Minister earlier in the day, pending a decision by the CPI (M).

The Cabinet also did not decide on any legal measures against the striking lorry operators as proposed earlier. The Chief Minister, however, announced that the strike would be dealt with sternly.

Devaswom postings

The Cabinet took the formal decision to entrust recruitments to the Travancore and Kochi Devaswom Boards to the Public Service Commission as per the provisions of the recently enacted Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions (Amendment) Act.

Replying to questions from journalists on the strictures against Mr. Mohammed Kutty, Mr. Achuthanandan said an appropriate decision would be taken considering the moral aspects also. "You will be wanting to know the Government's opinion, not my personal opinion. That will have to wait legal counsel."

He said there were no parallels between the court action against the Power Minister A. K. Balan and Mr. Mohammed Kutty. It was wrong on the part of the Magistrate Court to have issued a warrant of arrest against Mr. Balan. The Minister had failed to appear before the Court as he had to carry out his Constitutional duties as a Minister in the Assembly.

Asked whether he had any evidence to support his allegations about the newspapers receiving foreign funds, the Chief Minister said commitment shown by some newspapers in their campaigns was proof. That indicated that they had obligations to fulfil, he said.

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