IPA Newspack
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets

IPA /

IPA Special

IPA Special

Kerala Ordinance Hurdle Cleared, Government Breathes Easy

By P. Sreekumaran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government is breathing easy with Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan shedding his reservations and signing the ordinance seeking to amend the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999.  The ordinance has averted a looming political crisis which threatened to overtake the Kerala Government.

The ordinance curtails the powers of the anti-corruption body and reduces it to a mere advisory role. The Governor signed the ordinance after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met him and explained the circumstances which prompted the Government to go ahead with the ordinance aimed at amending Section 14 of the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999. Section 14 empowers the Lok Ayukta to remove a corrupt public official from public office and prevent him from holding the post again.

The Government contended that the provision is constitutionally untenable and should be amended.  As per the amendment, the recommendation for action against a minister will be reviewed by the Chief Minister  and that against the CM will be reviewed by the Governor after a hearing within three months of the date of recommendation.  In other words, the order makes it non-binding on the “competent authority” to mandatorily oust, without appeal,  any public official found guilty by the ombudsman.  Another amendment allows retired high court judges to hold the post of Lok Ayukta as against the provision in the original Act  passed by the EK Nayanar Government as per which only a retired chief justice of a high court or a retired judge of the  Supreme Court can become the Lok Ayukta.

Understandably, the Opposition has strongly opposed the ordinance on the ground that it seeks to undermine the Lok Ayukta’s powers to probe charges of corruption, maladministration and nepotism against those holding public office. The Opposition parties have alleged that the ordinance has been brought in to shield the Chief Minister from possible prosecution in a case pending against him before the Lok Ayukta. It may be mentioned that the Lok Ayukta has given a clean chit to Higher Education Minister R Bindu in a case against her of alleged nepotism in the reappointment of Kannur University Vice-Chancellor. The case against the CM is coming up on February 11. Now that the ordinance has been cleared, any unfavourable order wont’ have any impact it would otherwise have had.

The Opposition is, however, in no mood to give up the fight. Both the Congress-led United Democratic Front and the BJP have decided to challenge it. Leader of the Opposition (LoP) V D Satheesan fired the first salvo by signaling his intent to challenge it legally.  He has alleged that the Governor and the  LDF Government have reached a pact. The Opposition is mighty miffed with the Governor who rejected its request not to sign the ordinance. A delegation of UDF leaders had called on the Governor with this request.  The second most powerful ally of the Congress in the UDF, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has also severely criticized the Governor. The IUML upped the ante by declaring that if the UDF came back to power, the ordinance will be annulled. Likewise, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, who had approached the Lok Ayukta against Higher Education Minister R Bindu alleging nepotism in the re-appointment of Kannur University VC Gopinath Ravindran  was critical of the Governor’s action.  Chennithala said the Governor’s assent amounted  to  the “last sacrament” given to the Lok Ayukta.

But the Government has another hurdle to clear. The CPI(M)’s ally, the CPI is unhappy about the manner in which the ordinance has been brought in. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran  voiced the party’s displeasure by posing the question: “What was the urgency in bringing in the ordinance? So far, we have not got a response to the question on the urgent situation that led to the ordinance,” Kanam said.  Kanam is upset also  because the issue was not discussed in the LDF meeting. The allies were kept in the dark.

The CPI’s objection is against the unilateral decisions taken by the CPI(M) on major issues. The CPI state executive also  meeting saw severe criticism against the ordinance.  The party wants the ordinance to be withdrawn. It has also conveyed the displeasure against the party ministers for failing to bring the issue to the leadership’s attention. The CPI(M) has, however, decided to initiate talks aimed at mollifying the miffed ally.  Reports have it that the CPI(M) leadership will assure the CPI that necessary amendments would be brought in when the legislation comes up before the Assembly.  (IPA Service)

Happening Now

Governor orders Uddhav to prove majority tomorrow

June 29, 2022
Happening Now

Muslim body chief condemns Udaipur killing as un-Islamic

June 29, 2022
Happening Now

Owaisi condemns killing, but with a rider

June 29, 2022
Politics

Uddav plays emotional card in bid to win over rebels

June 29, 2022
Politics

Four BJP panels to work out preparations for 2024

June 29, 2022
Business

Crucial GST Council meeting underway

June 29, 2022
IPA Special

Uddhav’s Soft Hindutva Is Being Challenged By Shiv Sena Hardliners

June 28, 2022
IPA Special

100% Electric Two-Wheeler Penetration In India Possible By 2031

June 28, 2022
IPA Special

AltNews Co-Founder’s Arrest By Delhi Police Is A Violation Of All Laws

June 28, 2022
IPA Special

United States Supreme Court Is Using Its Unchecked Power Against People

June 28, 2022
IPA Special

Supreme Court’s Judgment In Gujarat Riots Case Bodes Ill For Democracy

June 28, 2022
IPA Special

Tripura Bypoll Results Showed The Faultlines Of Trinamool Congress

June 28, 2022
IPA Special

Congress In Kerala Loses The Perception Battle

June 28, 2022
Happening Now

Governor may ask for trust vote in Maharashtra tussle

June 28, 2022
Politics

Uddhav was ready to quit, but allies prevailed over him

June 28, 2022
Politics

Simranjit Mann’s win revives broom vs. sword debate

June 28, 2022
Happening Now

Rahul Gandhi blasts Alt News co-founder Zubair’s arrest

June 28, 2022
Happening Now

Fuel shortage forces Lanka to allow only essential services

June 28, 2022
Politics

Victory of Bal Thackeray’s Hindutva, claims Shinde

June 27, 2022
Happening Now

Key Uddhav aide Raut summoned by ED for ‘money laundering’

June 27, 2022

An appeal

The legacy of IPA, founded by Nikhil Chakravartty, the doyen of journalism in India, to keep the flag of independent media flying high, is facing the threat of extinction due to the effect of the Covid pandemic. Only an emergency funding can avert such an eventuality. We appeal to all those who believe in the freedom of expression to contribute to this noble cause.
Click here to learn more

Share

Reply

  • 0
More on IPA

Uddhav’s Soft Hindutva Is Being Challenged By Shiv Sena Hardliners

June 28, 2022 2:50 pm | IPA Staff

By Kalyani Shankar Is the ongoing Maharashtra political crisis an ideological battle within the Shiv Sena or the inability of  Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray...

IPA Special

100% Electric Two-Wheeler Penetration In India Possible By 2031

June 28, 2022 2:47 pm | IPA Staff

By Dr. Gyan Pathak With demand incentives withdrawn after FY 2024, maximum penetration of electric two-wheelers in India could be 71.54 per cent in Technology...

IPA Special

AltNews Co-Founder’s Arrest By Delhi Police Is A Violation Of All Laws

June 28, 2022 2:20 pm | IPA Staff

By Sushil Kutty At last the Delhi Police has gone and done the unpardonable. The capital’s constabulary, which answers to the Union Home Ministry, summoned...

IPA Special

United States Supreme Court Is Using Its Unchecked Power Against People

June 28, 2022 2:17 pm | IPA Staff

By Ben Beckett On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion and making abortion illegal in at least...

IPA Special

Uddhav’s Soft Hindutva Is Being Challenged By Shiv Sena Hardliners

in IPA Special
Jun 28, 2022   ·  

100% Electric Two-Wheeler Penetration In India Possible By 2031

in IPA Special
Jun 28, 2022   ·  

AltNews Co-Founder’s Arrest By Delhi Police Is A Violation Of All Laws

in IPA Special
Jun 28, 2022   ·  

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Follow us on
Up Next: Inflation Management Has To Be A Key Task To Achieve Budget Goals
©2020 -2021 India Press Agency, All Rights Reserved
Newspack by India Press Agency
Posting....
logo
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets