THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday signed the ordinance proposing amendments to the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999, rendering the Lok Ayukta orders not binding on the government. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had met the governor for more than an hour on Sunday and explained the government's position on the matter.
The Congress criticised Khan's decision and alleged a deal between the CPM and the BJP. Senior LDF partner CPI also expressed displeasure over the ordinance while the assembly session is scheduled soon. BJP state president K Surendran said the government would have forced its way on the ordinance but the governor should have refrained from signing it.
CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran ruled out any change in his party's stand on the amendment and said no discussions were held in the LDF on it. "We still oppose the amendment. The governor might be convinced of its need but we are not," he said.
The amendment will render all Lok Ayukta verdicts under Section 14 of the Act irrelevant as the government can now accept or reject them. Any verdict against a cabinet member can be overruled by the chief minister while the governor can overrule a verdict against the chief minister. Former higher education minister K T Jaleel had to resign from the cabinet following an adverse verdict from the Lok Ayukta in an appointment row.
Opposition leader V D Satheesan, who had written twice against the ordinance to the governor, said the chief minister had ensured that the Lok Ayukta would “only bark, and not bite” before petition against him is considered by the ombudsman and the governor has become a party to the government's illegal action.
He said the opposition would seek a legal recourse on the matter.
