KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday lashed out at Chief Secretary Dr V Venu and Transport Department Secretary Biju Prabhakar for not appearing in the contempt of court cases citing their busy schedules. Justice Devan Ramachandran verbally criticized the two saying that they were embarrassing the court by not appearing in the court in contempt of court cases. The court also ordered that both of them should appear online on November 8, regardless of their programmes.

The High Court had directed Chief Secretary Dr V Venu to appear online in the contempt of court case related to the delay in distributing the KSRTC pension and in the contempt case related to industrial pollution in Ambalamukal in Ernakulam.

The court, which criticised the Chief Secretary's explanation, also added the Central Pollution Control Board as a party in the plea. Transport Secretary Biju Prabhakar was also supposed to appear in the case in which the distribution of KSRTC pension got stalled.