Presence of Lokayukta at CM's Iftar party questions sense of justice: N K Premachandran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: NK Premachandran on Friday said that the presence of Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta at the Iftar party hosted by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan questioned the sense of justice and was inappropriate. He said that this was contrary to the self-restrictions and conventions followed by the administrators and judges in independent India.

"There is an oddity in the CM, who is a party in the case being considered by the Lokayukta, inviting the judges as guests and the judges accepting the invitation. This gathering comes as the parties try to seek redress from the higher courts on the order of the Lokayukta. It should be examined whether the Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta followed the disciplines that the judges are supposed to follow. It is illogical for those who attended the Iftar party as guests to hear the case against the Chief Minister and pronounce the verdict. The stand of the Lokayukta sabotages the general perception of the sense of justice," Premachandran said.

The CM relief fund 'misuse' case against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was referred to the three-member full bench following a difference of opinion between the judges. The full bench will pronounce the verdict after hearing the arguments again. The date for this will also be announced later.