THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The chief secretary was criticised for not issuing the order extending the moratorium on farmers’ loans. The chief secretary was criticised at the cabinet meet convened here Wednesday. The chief minister asked why the delay occurred in completing the procedures and it should have been released before the announcement of polls.

The chief minister criticised him soon after the agriculture minister expressed his dissatisfaction on the delay in issuing the order. Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar had yesterday stated that the cabinet decision is usually issued within 48 hours. The cabinet convened on March 5 had decided to extend the moratorium on loan-recovery proceedings on agricultural loans to December 31 from the earlier deadline of October 31. The notification on the extension of moratorium was not issued as polls were announced on March 10 and the model code of conduct also came into effect.