THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Lokayukta on Friday dismissed the plea filed by congress leader Ramesh Chennithala against Higher Education Minister R Bindu in connection with the re-appointment of Gopinath Ravindran as Kannur University Vice-chancellor. The Lokayukta said the minister had not misused power or shown nepotism and had not put unnecessary pressure on the governor.

The minister only proposed. The governor could have either accepted or rejected it if wanted. As a minister had not acted in a partisan manner. It is not clear whether had taken a wrong path, added Lokayukta.

The plea filed in the Lokayukta mainly alleged that the minister had illegally interfered in the appointment of the VC. The main complaint raised by Ramesh Chennithala was that the proposal made by the minister to re-appoint the VC was illegal. However, the government informed the Lokayukta during the hearing that such a proposal was made at the request of the Governor.

An explanatory note was received from the Governor regarding the appointment of the VC yesterday. Such action was taken on the advice of the AG. In his explanation, the governor said that such a proposal was reached with the intervention of the chief minister's office and the minister of higher education.