Four officials of the Anthoor municipality in Kannur district have been suspended from service in connection with the suicide of NRI investor Parayil Sajan, Local Self-Government Minister A.C. Moideen has said.
Mr. Moideen told reporters here on Thursday that municipal secretary M.K. Gireesh, assistant engineer Kalesh, and two Grade I overseers Augustine and Sudheer have been suspended pending inquiry.
Sajan, who had invested a substantial sum for constructing a convention centre, committed suicide following the alleged denial of permission for the centre by the municipality. It has triggered a political storm in the State.
The officers have been suspended on detecting lapses on their part in according clearance. The Chief Town Planning Officer (Vigilance) and the Urban Affairs Joint Director (Northern Region) have been told to submit a detailed report on the incident.
They have been told to investigate whether there was any delay on the part of the officers concerned in issuing the ownership certificate and other administrative lapses and submit a report within 10 days. Stringent action would be taken against the officials if they are found guilty of such offences, Mr. Moideen said.
He said he did not subscribe to the view that there was a delay on the part of the municipal chairperson in issuing the certificate. A final decision on such things was to be made by the officials. Let the police investigate the charges raised by Sajan’s widow.
Adalats would be conducted in local bodies to clear pending applications seeking building permits. The Minister would head such adalats in Corporations. Details of applications and their status would be published on the website of local bodies.
Mr. Moideen termed the incident in Kannur as an isolated one and said that the government was committed to making Kerala an investor-friendly State.
