PM SHRI: Will inform when decision is taken, says CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government will inform the public once a decision is taken on implementing the PM SHRI scheme in Kerala, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said. A Cabinet subcommittee has already been formed and has held a meeting.

Satheesan dismissed reports that the implementation of PM SHRI was discussed during his meeting with Rahul Gandhi as “news created out of thin air”. He said the issue was not discussed at all. He also clarified that AICC general secretary Deepa Dasmunsi had not asked the KPCC Political Affairs Committee to oppose the implementation of PM SHRI.

The Chief Minister said there would be no ban on appointing retired persons to government posts and that appointments would be made on the basis of merit. The Legal Metrology Department will intervene in complaints about shops charging excessive prices for products inside theatres. The government will also examine the crisis faced by Kudumbashree hotels.

No additional appointments to personal staff

A total of 476 people have been appointed as personal staff members under the UDF government, compared with 787 during the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government, Satheesan said. The Chief Minister’s staff currently has 31 members. The government has proposed limiting the number of personal staff members to 25 for each minister. The allegation that Minister Bindu Krishna appointed a relative to her personal staff will also be examined, he said. A decision on appointing chairpersons to state boards and corporations will be taken soon.

The party has taken strict action over the dispute between MLA Ramya Haridas and the Congress’s local leadership in Chirayinkeezhu, Satheesan said. With the Sabarimala pilgrimage season approaching, efforts are under way to ensure a smooth pilgrimage. He also said there was no dissatisfaction with the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Rank list extension: Government to discuss with PSC

The government will hold discussions with the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding the extension of the validity of rank lists, Satheesan said.

The Cabinet had decided to extend the validity of 18 rank lists for teacher appointments, which were due to expire by November, by six months. However, by the time the Cabinet decision reached the PSC, one of the rank lists had already expired and a new list had been published.

“It was in this situation that the government decided to hold discussions with the PSC,” Satheesan said. He also pointed out that there are legal issues involved in extending the validity of rank lists.

The Chief Minister clarified that the government only has the authority to make a recommendation to the PSC on extending the validity of the lists.

Senior lawyers’ panel

• The Cabinet has approved a panel of senior lawyers to represent the state in cases before the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister said.

• Taking into account a Supreme Court directive, the retirement age of district judicial officers in the state has been increased to 62.

• A compensation of Rs 5 lakh will be sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund to a Kozhikode native who was a victim of an assault in 2023 and is undergoing treatment in the ICU of Kozhikode Government Medical College.

• Retired High Court Justice C Pradeep Kumar will be appointed as the Ombudsman for local self-government institutions.

Kanthapuram’s remarks: No change in stand

Satheesan said there would be no change in his stand against the remarks made by Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar against women. He said the posts related to the issue were still available on Facebook and Instagram and dismissed reports that they had been removed as incorrect.

He said the leaders of the AP faction of Samastha who met him had not come to discuss the issue. According to Satheesan, they had sought permission to meet him three weeks earlier.

Responding to criticism in Suprabhaatham, the mouthpiece of Samastha, that the Chief Minister should speak respectfully, Satheesan said people could judge the criticism for themselves.

“Everyone has the right to criticise. I do not consider anyone an enemy simply because they have criticised me. They can decide for themselves what language to use in their criticism. The Chief Minister is not above criticism,” Satheesan said.