THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Upa Lokayukta Justice Babu Mathew Joseph said that the allocation of money from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund was a collective decision of the Cabinet. This was clarified in the argument of the relief fund misappropriation case.

'Ministers are public servants, Not the ministry',the justice said. It was also observed that the Chief Minister had no personal role in sanctioning the money. The petitioner's contention of involvement was rejected.

The Lokayukta also did not accept the contention that the money in the relief fund was used illegally. Administratively, the order was issued by paying the deserving people. Asked by the upa Lokayukta whether any minister was against the cabinet decision, the petitioner's lawyer, George Bhattanam, said that he had no business to inquire into the matter. It was also complained that Deputy Commissioners Justice Haroon-ul-Rasheed and Justice Babu Mathew Joseph were constantly asking questions to obstruct the hearing. Argument was stopped in between. Lokayukta Justice Cyriak Joseph intervened and persuaded the lawyer and continued the argument.

The previous judgment was observational only

Lokayukta Justice Cyriak Joseph said that the three-judge bench will hear the case again on the validity of the case. The ruling by former Lokayukta Justice Pius Kuriakos that the complaint is valid is not a decision. The assessment of the full bench is observation only. During the hearing, Justice Haroon-ul-Rasheed said that the case has lapsed as the opposing parties are no longer ministers except the Chief Minister. The case will be heard again on Friday to hear the government's side. Social activist R S Sasikumar is the petitioner .