Pinarayi Vijayan Questions Lokayukta Meeting Chaired by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala; Calls It Undemocratic

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan has termed the high-level meeting convened in Thiruvananthapuram under the chairmanship of Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, attended by the Lokayukta and Deputy-Lokayuktas, as a highly serious and undemocratic move.

The meeting was held in the presence of senior officials, including Director General of Prosecution Asaf Ali, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department and the Law Secretary. Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the UDF government's move to bring an independent judicial institution under the control of the executive was highly inappropriate and amounted to a serious violation of constitutional principles.

He said the move completely undermined the spirit of the Constitution of India and the Kerala Lokayukta Act, 1999. According to him, a minister directly convening the Lokayukta and Deputy-Lokayuktas goes against the constitutional principle of separation between the executive and judiciary and undermines the dignity of an independent judicial system.

Under the Kerala Lokayukta Act, the Lokayukta is an independent institution empowered to investigate allegations of corruption, nepotism and abuse of power against public servants, including the Chief Minister, ministers, legislators and government officials. Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that it was illegal for the Home Minister, whose actions could also come under the jurisdiction of the Lokayukta, to summon the heads of the institution and issue directions to them.

The institution has legal powers to receive evidence, summon witnesses, conduct investigations and submit reports against public servants. He said the minister's decision to convene judges who are expected to function without fear, bias or favour in the presence of government representatives and the head of prosecution could raise doubts among the public about the institution's impartiality.

Pinarayi Vijayan said UDF leaders, when in opposition, had repeatedly spoken about the autonomy and impartiality of the Lokayukta. He alleged that the same leaders, who are now in government, had approached the Governor when the LDF government introduced the Lokayukta amendment Bill in the Assembly, alleging that it sought to curtail the Lokayukta's powers.

He also said the current Home Minister, Ramesh Chennithala, had personally approached the High Court challenging the amendment on the ground that it amounted to interference with the Lokayukta's judicial powers. The High Court had dismissed the petition, he added.

Pinarayi Vijayan described the meeting as an inappropriate intervention by the government. He said it was improper to drag Lokayukta judges into a controversy and urged the government and ministers not to repeat such actions that could undermine the credibility of the Lokayukta.

The government should instead ensure that such institutions are allowed to function independently, he said.