KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday said that all the deals in the road camera project should be examined. The court ruled that it must be determined whether the project has resulted in any losses or additional costs to the exchequer. The High Court also barred the government from transferring funds for the camera project until the court issues an order or prior permission. A division bench comprising Chief Justice SVN Bhatti and Justice Basant Balaji said that it would examine the project documents.

The High Court gave the direction on the PIL filed by Opposition Leader VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala seeking a probe into the AI camera deal under the supervision of the High Court. Appreciating the opposition in the matter, the court gave the petitioners an opportunity to file a detailed affidavit.

The court appreciated the intervention of the opposition in bringing up the matter. The petitioners have been given two weeks for filing a detailed affidavit regarding the AI camera deal. The court will consider the petition again after three weeks.

The agreement requires the government to pay 232.25 crores to Keltron within five years. It is stipulated that about three and a half crores will be paid once in three months in terms of operating expenses and about eight and a half crores (total Rs. 11.79 crores) for the installation of cameras. This is what the High Court has blocked.

Court observation

1. It should be examined whether the implementation of the plan is bona fide and based on any other consideration.

2. It should be seen whether the public exchequer has been directly or indirectly affected after the scheme has been paid and implemented.

3. It should also be checked whether the order issued on April 18 with comprehensive administrative permission was discussed in detail in the cabinet meeting held on April 12.

Allegation in the petition

It is ill-intentioned that the scheme proposed to be implemented on the BOOT model was later changed. Keltron is not qualified to execute the project.

The reason for implementing the project despite rejection by the finance department is because the operators have direct connections with the ruling elite and political influence.