Relief fund: HC sends notice to CM, former ministers; action on petition challenging Lokayukta verdict

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has admitted the petition filed by Thiruvananthapuram native RS Sasikumar against the Lokayukta verdict rejecting the complaint against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and 17 ministers of the previous LDF government accusing them of misusing the CM's distress relief fund (CMDRF). A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashish J Desai and Justice VG Arun also directed to issue notices to the Chief Minister and former ministers. The court will consider the petition again on March 11.

The petitioner had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta questioning the allocation of 25 lakhs to the family of NCP leader Uzhavoor Vijayan, 8.5 lakhs to the dependents of former MLA KK Ramachandran Nair and 20 lakhs to the family of the civil police officer killed in an accident from the relief fund. However, Lokayukta Justice Cyriac Joseph and Upalokayuktas Justice Harun-ul-Rashid and Justice Babu Mathew P Joseph issued separate orders rejecting the complaint.

Rejecting the petition, Lokayukta Justice Cyriac Joseph said that there was no evidence to prove that the CMDRF funds were misused. The Deputy Lokayuktas clarified that the decision of the cabinet cannot be questioned in the Lokayukta. Following this, Sasikumar approached the High Court demanding to quash all three orders.