Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 26 Leader of Opposition in the Keralam Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday alleged that the meeting convened by state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala with the Lokayukta and Upa Lokayuktas was an attempt by the UDF government to bring an independent institution under the control of the executive.
He was responding to reports that Chennithala held a meeting with the Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas in the presence of the Director General of Prosecution, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, the Law Secretary, and other officials.
In a Facebook post, Vijayan described the meeting as a “serious and anti-democratic move”.
Vijayan alleged that convening the Lokayukta and Upa Lokayuktas by a minister was against the constitutional principle of separation of the executive and judiciary and the independence of the judicial system.
He said the Lokayukta was an independent institution empowered under the Kerala Lokayukta Act, 1999, to investigate allegations of corruption, nepotism and abuse of power against public servants, including the Chief Minister, ministers, legislators and government officials.
“The Home Minister, who comes under the jurisdiction of the Lokayukta, calling the heads of that institution and giving directions to them is illegal,” Vijayan alleged.
He said the Lokayukta has the statutory power to receive evidence, summon witnesses, conduct inquiries and submit reports against public servants.
The meeting of judges in the presence of government representatives and the head of prosecution could create doubts among the public about the institution’s impartiality, he said.
Vijayan also recalled that UDF leaders, while in the opposition, had repeatedly spoken in favour of the autonomy and impartiality of the Lokayukta.
He said the UDF leaders had approached the Governor opposing amendments to the Lokayukta law brought by the previous LDF government, alleging that they were aimed at curtailing the institution’s powers.
Vijayan also pointed out that Chennithala, who was then in the Opposition, had approached the High Court to challenge the amendments, arguing that they amounted to interference with the Lokayukta’s judicial powers.
The High Court dismissed the case, he said.
Vijayan alleged that the meeting in Thiruvananthapuram amounted to “inappropriate government interference” and said it was improper to drag Lokayukta judges into a controversy.
He urged the government and ministers not to repeat such actions and said the government should ensure that institutions such as the Lokayukta are allowed to function independently.
(PTI News)
