If the offices of the Local Self-Government Department functioning from rented buildings are not shifted to Swaraj Bhavan before this year-end, the onus for paying the rent will be on the officers concerned, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission has ruled.
Commission chairperson J.B. Koshy issued the order on the basis of a petition filed by Kilimanoor Ajith. The complex was inaugurated at Nanthencode in the city in 2011. Even now many offices were functioning from rented premises and this was misuse of public funds. This amounted to human rights violation.
The Local Administration Secretary had informed the commission that officials were reluctant to move to the new complex. Funds crunch and technical hitches were also some of the reasons for the delay in shifting the offices. If the offices had not been furnished so far, it showed the inefficiency of the officers or the negligence of the department. He directed that the offices be shifted immediately.
