CPM attempting to further weaken Lokayukta through Jaleel's allegations; Oommen Chandy lashes out

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday said that KT Jaleel raised allegations against Lokayukta soon after the state government came up with a move to dilute Lokayukta's powers. Chandy alleged that this was meant to further weaken the Lokayukta.

Oommen Chandy, who denied Jaleel's allegation that Dr Jancy James was appointed as Vice-Chancellor of MG University as a reward for saving a UDF leader, added that Jancy James was appointed as VC in November 2004. "Jancy James was appointed Vice-Chancellor in November 2004. However, the verdict regarding the UDF leader came in 2005 January. With this, Jaleel's argument has been proven wrong. Justice Subhashan Reddy was also a member of the Division Bench at that time," Oommen Chandy said.

"No other names had come up for the post of Vice-Chancellor. Jancy James later became the VC of Kasargod Central University due to her academic excellence," Chandy added. Oommen Chandy alleged that the Pinarayi government was weakening the constitutional institutions, including the Lokayukta, on the model of the Modi government's attempts to weaken the constitutional institutions.