A Full Court meeting of the Kerala High Court here on Monday rejected the State government’s request to spare a judge to head a judicial commission to inquire into the solar scam cases.
It was the State government’s second request after the court turned down the first.
Shortage of judges
The court rejected the request on the ground that the Supreme Court has issued a directive against sparing sitting judges for inquiry commissions, it is learnt. The court is learned to have cited the shortage of judges as another reason.
Eight posts of judge have been vacant in the High Court against the sanctioned strength of 38, including the Chief Justice. Some of the judges will retire in a few months.
The State government had decided to order a judicial investigation by a sitting judge into the scam in view of a storm of protest by the Opposition. The Left Democratic Front had called off its siege to the Secretariat after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced the decision to order such an investigation.
The High Court Registrar will soon intimate the Chief Secretary about the court’s decision.
