High Court Orders Inquiry Into Credentials Of Litigant Who Challenged Thomas Isaac's Appointment As Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission Advisor

The Kerala High Court on Monday (January 20) ordered the State Government to conduct an inquiry to ascertain the credentials of petitioner, Navas A, who has filed a public interest litigation challenging the appointment of former Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac as the advisor of Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM).A Division Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S Manu has directed the counsel appearing on behalf of the State Government to examine the additional affidavit filed by the petitioner and submit a report. The Court stated, “Pursuant to earlier direction, the petitioner has filed an additional affidavit. All that he has written in the additional affidavit is that he is a driver and literate. He also says that he is an RTI activist, whatever that means. The counsel for learned government attorney is directed to examine the additional affidavit and to file a report. The least that is expected is that the PIL litigant must understand what it written in the petition and the intricacies thereon.”The Court orally stated that it must know the education and employment details of the petitioner who claims to be a public interest litigant. The petitioner has only written that he is literate, driver and RTI activist and has not disclosed any other personal details. Court on perusing the additional affidavit filed by the Petitioner, orally said, “this kind of PIL's should stop. Hold an inquiry.”The petitioner submitted that the KKEM conducts its program under the label 'vinjana keralam'. As per the plea, KKEM aims to create employment opportunities for the educated and intends to promote social and economic development of the State through creating employment opportunities. The plea stated that Planning and Economic Affairs (Development and Innovation) Department issued a government notification dated December 12, 2024 appointing Dr Isaac as the advisor of Vinjana Keralam. The petitioner alleges that the State Government does not have a department called Planning and Economic Affairs (Development and Innovation) Department, but only Planning and Economic Affairs Department.It is further alleged that the notification was issued by an ex-officio Secretary of the above department which is impermissible under law, since only a Secretary could pass orders. The petitioner also alleges that as per the government notification, Dr Issac is allotted rupees 70,000 per month for fuel charges and to meet the expenses of the driver. His plea alleged, “It is a clear example of nepotism and favouritism. More than Lakh rupees are spent every month for an advisor for a post under an imaginary department and project. It is a great loss for the Government exchequer."The petitioner had thus approached the Court for setting aside the government notification, appointing Dr Isaac as advisor, as arbitrary, illegal, ultra vires and void. Plea has been moved by Advocate Akhil Sussendran Case Number: WPC 45335/ 2024Case Title: Navas A. v State of Kerala

High Court Orders Inquiry Into Credentials Of Litigant Who Challenged Thomas Isaac's Appointment As Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission Advisor

Tellmy Jolly

Tags