NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has decided to conduct a detailed hearing on the petition questioning the appointment of the personal staff of all the cabinet members, including the Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Whip in Kerala and the benefits provided to them. A bench comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi also observed that although the appointment of personal staff in Gujarat is similar, they are only provided with an honorarium.

The Anti-Corruption People's Movement of Kochi approached the Supreme Court after the Kerala High Court chaired by Chief Justice S Manikumar rejected the petition.

The petitioners alleged that there was no transparency in the appointment of personal staff. The petition further stated that the ministers, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Whip were making appointments by exercising discretionary powers and that the government was spending a huge amount from the exchequer in the name of salary, gratuity and pension.