KOCHI: The State government on Monday filed an appeal before a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court against a single judge’s verdict seeking to expunge the disparaging remarks by a single judge about Social Welfare Minster K.K. Shylaja while quashing the appointment of two members to the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The court had criticised the Minister for extending the deadline for submitting applications for the vacant posts of the commission. The petitioner had alleged that the deadline was extended with a view to facilitating appointment of persons of her choice -- T. B. Sureshkumar (Wayanad) and Syamala Devi (Kasaragod), who were convicted in criminal cases.
The court pointed out that the files did not disclose the reasons for extending the outer time limit for submission of applications. Therefore, the decision was not bona fide.
The government, in the appeal, said the single judge had made the remarks without making the Minister as a respondent in the case. She had not been given any opportunity for explaining her stand. The remarks were not at all necessary for the disposal of the case.
Eom.
