Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
18 Apr 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Kerala has failed to properly utilise the skills of the scores of people who have returned from abroad, especially the Gulf countries, says a study conducted by the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), here .
The study also highlights the need for initiating predeparture counselling for emigrants as well as measures to minimise the cost of emigration.
Titled 'From Kerala to Kerala via the Gulf Emigration experiences of the return emigrants', the study has been carried out by CDS honorary fellow K C Zachariah and prof S Irudaya Rajan, based on the experience of the returned emigrants.
"The return emigrant's contribution to the development of the state has fallen below expectations, considering the resources at their disposal. With the financial resources at their disposal, the skills and disciplined work culture they had acquired, and the contacts they had established, it is expected that emigrants could make a more significant contribution to the state's development. However, they have not risen to the challenge or risen to the occasion and this is mainly due to the absence of toplevel entrepreneurial skills among the return emigrants," the study says suggesting that the government should make good use of the returnees for the development of the state.
Either the government or business leaders could take the leadership and give directions to the returnees or the entrepreneurs. They should be persuaded with adequate incentives to establish development projects within the state by utilising the resources brought in by them and other returned emigrants, the CDS study suggests.
The total number of returnees in the state is estimated to be around 13 lakh and it is projected to reach 15.8 lakh by 2015.
According to the Kerala Migration Study of 2008, the number of returnees was 11.5 lakh, compared to 7.4 lakh in 1998. Another recent study by CDS had pointed out that recessionrelated return emigration of Keralites was not as extensive as was often reported to be. Although about 1.7 lakh persons returned during the recession period, those returned owing to recessionrelated reasons were around 60,000 only.
The CDS study moots the need to introduce a comprehensive preemigration counselling and skills upgradation programme so that the emigrants do not face socioeconomic problems abroad. The counselling should include familiarising the prospective emigrants with living and working conditions abroad, acquainting them with the problems that they are likely to face abroad and the ways and means of dealing with such issues.
"Return emigrants of the state today would have been a much happier lot, had they been given proper counselling about life after emigration. Counselling on financial management with a longterm perspective could have been very useful for them when they face the prospect of their long life as a return emigrant without a regular monthly income.
Prevention is better than cure. Problem preventing measures aimed at future emigrants would work better than problem solving measures aimed at return emigrants," says the CDS study, which was financed by the NonResident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) Department and supported by the Overseas Indian Affairs Department.
The increased cost of emigration from Kerala is pointed out as one reason for the economic instability of the emigrants. The average cost of emigration from Kerala is estimated around Rs 57,000 where as the average income of an emigrant is around Rs 10,000. Most of the emigrants raise the emigration cost by way of loans and hence it would take months for the emigrant to meet the emigration expense.
"The government should intervene wherever possible to check the increase in the cost of emigration and take measures to prevent recruiting agents and other intermediaries from exploiting the poorly educated and financially deprived prospective emigrants of Kerala," the study says.
Sunday 17 April 2011
CrPC amendments clip cops of their freedom to arrest
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
17 Apr 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Arresting a person involved in offences such as cheating, molestation and robbery would not be an easy task for the police officers in the state hereafter as the Police Department has decided to implement the recent amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The fresh amendments restrict the police from arresting a person either on the basis of a complaint or suspicion regarding his involvement in a cognizable offence that warrants punishment up to seven years, without a warrant.
Police sources said that around 90 percent of the cases registered in the state are offences that warrant less than seven years of punishment.
Only crimes such as rape, attempt to murder and murder warrants punishment beyond seven years. However, certain exceptions are provided in the amended law. If a person commits an offence either in the presence of a police officer or if a police officer feels that there is a genuine reason for the arrest, then a warrant is not necessary to arrest the person.
It has been made mandatory that the details of all persons arrested at all police stations in a district be published at the district police control rooms (PCRs) of the respective districts on a daily basis.
DGP Jacob Punnoose has directed all police officers to abide by the amendments that came into effect in November 2010.
“We are in the process of implementing the fresh amendments. As a first step, all the police officials are being made aware of the amendments,” the DGP told Express. The fresh amendments also make it mandatory that a police officer should record the reasons either for arresting a person or not for arresting a person after having received a complaint or information or a reasonable suspicion regarding the person’s involvement in a cognizable offence that warrants punishment of up to seven years.
A notice board should be kept outside the district police control rooms with the details of the persons arrested in the police stations with in the district on that day as well as the previous day.
The name of the police officer who arrested the person should also be mentioned on the board. The station house officers (SHOs) should furnish the details about the arrested persons to the district police control room as well as the District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB), says the amended laws.
The State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) will have to maintain the details of all persons arrested in all the police stations in the state. The DCRBs will have to forward the details of the arrests in each district to the SCRB on a weekly basis.
With the amendments to the CrPC, it has also become mandatory that an arrested person should be informed of his right to give the name of a friend or relative who should be informed of his arrest. Also, an arrested person should be permitted to meet a lawyer during the interrogation, according to the amendment.
The New Indian Express
17 Apr 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Arresting a person involved in offences such as cheating, molestation and robbery would not be an easy task for the police officers in the state hereafter as the Police Department has decided to implement the recent amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The fresh amendments restrict the police from arresting a person either on the basis of a complaint or suspicion regarding his involvement in a cognizable offence that warrants punishment up to seven years, without a warrant.
Police sources said that around 90 percent of the cases registered in the state are offences that warrant less than seven years of punishment.
Only crimes such as rape, attempt to murder and murder warrants punishment beyond seven years. However, certain exceptions are provided in the amended law. If a person commits an offence either in the presence of a police officer or if a police officer feels that there is a genuine reason for the arrest, then a warrant is not necessary to arrest the person.
It has been made mandatory that the details of all persons arrested at all police stations in a district be published at the district police control rooms (PCRs) of the respective districts on a daily basis.
DGP Jacob Punnoose has directed all police officers to abide by the amendments that came into effect in November 2010.
“We are in the process of implementing the fresh amendments. As a first step, all the police officials are being made aware of the amendments,” the DGP told Express. The fresh amendments also make it mandatory that a police officer should record the reasons either for arresting a person or not for arresting a person after having received a complaint or information or a reasonable suspicion regarding the person’s involvement in a cognizable offence that warrants punishment of up to seven years.
A notice board should be kept outside the district police control rooms with the details of the persons arrested in the police stations with in the district on that day as well as the previous day.
The name of the police officer who arrested the person should also be mentioned on the board. The station house officers (SHOs) should furnish the details about the arrested persons to the district police control room as well as the District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB), says the amended laws.
The State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) will have to maintain the details of all persons arrested in all the police stations in the state. The DCRBs will have to forward the details of the arrests in each district to the SCRB on a weekly basis.
With the amendments to the CrPC, it has also become mandatory that an arrested person should be informed of his right to give the name of a friend or relative who should be informed of his arrest. Also, an arrested person should be permitted to meet a lawyer during the interrogation, according to the amendment.
Monday 11 April 2011
Palode Ravi hopeful, Ramachandran Nair confident
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
11 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Will Palode Ravi miss it between the cup and the lip this time ? This is the question doing the rounds in Nedumangad constituency as the Assembly elections are just two days away.
Ravi had suffered a defeat by a meagre margin to CPI’s Mangode Radhakrishnan consecutively in the last two Assembly elections at Nedumangad constituency. During 2006, Ravi was defeated by a margin of 85 votes, which was the lowest margin during that elections in the state. In 2001, Ravi lost to Radhakrishnan by 156 votes.
“This time I am sure that the debacle won’t repeat as the people of Nedumangad are eagerly awaiting a change,” says a much confident Ravi.
It was not the political situations, but other factors like the sentimental votes that had come in favour of Mangode during the previous years as he suffered a road accident just before the elections, says Ravi.
Ravi could heave a sigh of relief as it’s not the two-time victorious Radhakrishnan, but P Ramachandran Nair, who is quite new to parliamentary politics, who is his opponent this time. Hence Ravi, who hails from the nearby Palode, claims to have the advantage of being a local.
Ramachandran Nair, who is the district secretary of CPI, had tested his luck in parliamentary politics in the Lok Sabha elections in 2009. However, he suffered a defeat by a margin of about one lakh votes to Shashi Tharoor of the Congress in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. With regard to confidence, Ramachandran Nair is not at all behind Ravi.
As he walks along the voters seeking their mandate, Ramachandran Nair lists out the achievements of the LDF Government one by one “The achievements of the LDF Government is the biggest factor in my favour. Moreover, with V S Achuthanandan leading the front, all the LDF candidates will get the advantage of the VS factor,” says Ramachandran Nair.
The thrust being given by the two-time MLA Ravi throughout his campaign is the development activities he had initiated in Nedumangad.
“I am sure the people of Nedumangad will not forget the development that I had brought in at Nedumangad during my earlier term as MLA here. Nedumangad had seen development in all fronts during my term. Now the people badly wants Nedumangad to be back on the development track and my lone agenda in development,” Ravi told Express on the sidelines of his busy campaign schedules in Nedumangad constituency.
The anti-incumbency factor will also work in my favour this time, adds Ravi.
Both the LDF and the UDF camps are claiming advantage over the delimitation of the Nedumangad constituency. According to the LDF leaders, with delimitation Panavoor, Aruvikara and Vellanad that are UDF strongholds got detached from Nedumangad Assembly constituency, where as LDF strongholds like Pothencode, Manickal and Andoorkonam have become part of the constituency.
However, the local Congress leaders claim that the wards that are newly attached to the constituency are UDF’s strongholds and hence it is advantage UDF with delimitation.
Though not strong enough to give a tight fight to the veteran politicians, BJP candidate K S Anjana is also active in the campaign front to make the presence of BJP felt in the Nedumangad area.
“The people are fed up with the UDF and LDF and hence it’s advantage BJP this time,” says Anjana who was an active leader of the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Alike any other candidate, Anjana also expresses confidence that she will emerge victorious in the polls.
The New Indian Express
11 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Will Palode Ravi miss it between the cup and the lip this time ? This is the question doing the rounds in Nedumangad constituency as the Assembly elections are just two days away.
Ravi had suffered a defeat by a meagre margin to CPI’s Mangode Radhakrishnan consecutively in the last two Assembly elections at Nedumangad constituency. During 2006, Ravi was defeated by a margin of 85 votes, which was the lowest margin during that elections in the state. In 2001, Ravi lost to Radhakrishnan by 156 votes.
“This time I am sure that the debacle won’t repeat as the people of Nedumangad are eagerly awaiting a change,” says a much confident Ravi.
It was not the political situations, but other factors like the sentimental votes that had come in favour of Mangode during the previous years as he suffered a road accident just before the elections, says Ravi.
Ravi could heave a sigh of relief as it’s not the two-time victorious Radhakrishnan, but P Ramachandran Nair, who is quite new to parliamentary politics, who is his opponent this time. Hence Ravi, who hails from the nearby Palode, claims to have the advantage of being a local.
Ramachandran Nair, who is the district secretary of CPI, had tested his luck in parliamentary politics in the Lok Sabha elections in 2009. However, he suffered a defeat by a margin of about one lakh votes to Shashi Tharoor of the Congress in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. With regard to confidence, Ramachandran Nair is not at all behind Ravi.
As he walks along the voters seeking their mandate, Ramachandran Nair lists out the achievements of the LDF Government one by one “The achievements of the LDF Government is the biggest factor in my favour. Moreover, with V S Achuthanandan leading the front, all the LDF candidates will get the advantage of the VS factor,” says Ramachandran Nair.
The thrust being given by the two-time MLA Ravi throughout his campaign is the development activities he had initiated in Nedumangad.
“I am sure the people of Nedumangad will not forget the development that I had brought in at Nedumangad during my earlier term as MLA here. Nedumangad had seen development in all fronts during my term. Now the people badly wants Nedumangad to be back on the development track and my lone agenda in development,” Ravi told Express on the sidelines of his busy campaign schedules in Nedumangad constituency.
The anti-incumbency factor will also work in my favour this time, adds Ravi.
Both the LDF and the UDF camps are claiming advantage over the delimitation of the Nedumangad constituency. According to the LDF leaders, with delimitation Panavoor, Aruvikara and Vellanad that are UDF strongholds got detached from Nedumangad Assembly constituency, where as LDF strongholds like Pothencode, Manickal and Andoorkonam have become part of the constituency.
However, the local Congress leaders claim that the wards that are newly attached to the constituency are UDF’s strongholds and hence it is advantage UDF with delimitation.
Though not strong enough to give a tight fight to the veteran politicians, BJP candidate K S Anjana is also active in the campaign front to make the presence of BJP felt in the Nedumangad area.
“The people are fed up with the UDF and LDF and hence it’s advantage BJP this time,” says Anjana who was an active leader of the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Alike any other candidate, Anjana also expresses confidence that she will emerge victorious in the polls.
Friday 8 April 2011
NRK voters a new factor in political scene
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
08 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It will be of no surprise if the candidates of all political parties in north Kerala districts come up with a slew of sops for the non-resident Keralites (NRKs) because majority of the expatriates who are expected to cast their votes as NRK voters in the coming Assembly elections hail from the northern districts.
Out of the 8,835 NRKs who have enrolled themselves in the electoral rolls, 2,628 are from Kozhikode. While Kannur stands in the second position with 1,958 NRK voters, Malappuram has 1,861 NRK voters. The lowest number of NRK voters are from Idukki district, 32. Wayanad has only 97 NRK voters. Among the 8,835 NRKs who have enrolled their names, 321 are women.
Though voting rights for NRKs had been a long-pending demand of the pravasis, the number of persons who have decided to enroll their names in the electoral rolls is very low when compared to the total number of NRKs, which is estimated to be above 20 lakh. The delay in finalising the procedure for enrolling the names as well as the grim job scenario in Gulf countries are cited as two major reasons for this.
“There was inordinate delay from the Centre in finalising the procedure for enrolling names in the voters’ list. Moreover, the NRKs in countries like Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia were quite disturbed by the turmoil in these countries, which is also one reason which affected many NRKs from enrolling their names in the electoral rolls,’’ Indo-Arab Confederation Council chairman and Pravasi Coordination Committee convener Attakoya Pallikandy said.
Moreover, it is quite impractical that the NRKs will come down to Kerala on leave just to cast their votes. Only those who will be in Kerala on annual leave during the time of elections will have the chance to exercise their franchise, says a section of Dubai-based NRKs.
Though the number of NRK voters are quite low, their family members can play a crucial role in the elections. All political parties have their feeder organisations in foreign countries, where there are considerable number of Malayalis, and the feeder organisations are engaged in verbal campaign among NRKs, Attakoya said.
The total number of NRK voters in other districts are as follows: Thiruvananthapuram - 230, Kollam - 204, Pathanamthitta - 296, Alappuzha - 166, Kottayam - 111, Ernakulam - 107, Thrissur - 385, Palakkad - 269, Wayanad - 97 and, Kasargod - 491.
The New Indian Express
08 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It will be of no surprise if the candidates of all political parties in north Kerala districts come up with a slew of sops for the non-resident Keralites (NRKs) because majority of the expatriates who are expected to cast their votes as NRK voters in the coming Assembly elections hail from the northern districts.
Out of the 8,835 NRKs who have enrolled themselves in the electoral rolls, 2,628 are from Kozhikode. While Kannur stands in the second position with 1,958 NRK voters, Malappuram has 1,861 NRK voters. The lowest number of NRK voters are from Idukki district, 32. Wayanad has only 97 NRK voters. Among the 8,835 NRKs who have enrolled their names, 321 are women.
Though voting rights for NRKs had been a long-pending demand of the pravasis, the number of persons who have decided to enroll their names in the electoral rolls is very low when compared to the total number of NRKs, which is estimated to be above 20 lakh. The delay in finalising the procedure for enrolling the names as well as the grim job scenario in Gulf countries are cited as two major reasons for this.
“There was inordinate delay from the Centre in finalising the procedure for enrolling names in the voters’ list. Moreover, the NRKs in countries like Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia were quite disturbed by the turmoil in these countries, which is also one reason which affected many NRKs from enrolling their names in the electoral rolls,’’ Indo-Arab Confederation Council chairman and Pravasi Coordination Committee convener Attakoya Pallikandy said.
Moreover, it is quite impractical that the NRKs will come down to Kerala on leave just to cast their votes. Only those who will be in Kerala on annual leave during the time of elections will have the chance to exercise their franchise, says a section of Dubai-based NRKs.
Though the number of NRK voters are quite low, their family members can play a crucial role in the elections. All political parties have their feeder organisations in foreign countries, where there are considerable number of Malayalis, and the feeder organisations are engaged in verbal campaign among NRKs, Attakoya said.
The total number of NRK voters in other districts are as follows: Thiruvananthapuram - 230, Kollam - 204, Pathanamthitta - 296, Alappuzha - 166, Kottayam - 111, Ernakulam - 107, Thrissur - 385, Palakkad - 269, Wayanad - 97 and, Kasargod - 491.
Monday 4 April 2011
Police ill-equipped as cyber crimes double
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
04 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite a whopping increase in the number of cyber crimes in the state over the past few years, the state’s cyber police still remain illequipped to contain the menace, both in terms of manpower and infrastructure.
While the number of complaints pertaining to the cyber and mobile-related crimes in the state that were received by the police during 2010 touched a whopping 80,000, the strength of the state cyber police force remains around 80.
More pitiable is that the request placed by the cyber police for procuring advanced cyber forensic tools two years ago still remains on paper.
The Hi-Tech Crime Enquiry Cell attached to the Police Headquarters here, deals with advanced cyber and mobile crimes, alone had handled 4,440 investigations during 2010 as against 584 in 2007 - an increase by manifolds.
While the total number of petitions received by the state’s cyber police units during 2009 was around 37,000, it has almost touched 80,000 in 2010, a majority of which are mobile phone thefts.
The only Cyber Police station in the state having jurisdiction of the entire state was set up in 2009. However, the government is yet to sanction any posts for the police station.
At present the DySP of the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) is holding the additional charge of the cyber police station and 10 police officials including a circleinspector, sub-inspectors and constables are posted on working arrangement, whereas the Cyber Police station of the neighbouring Karnataka is headed by a SP and has four DySPs, eight CIs and SIs each and more than 20 constables. It is more pitiable that the request for cyber forensic tools for a set of Cyber Police Station still remains on the papers. Owing to the inordinate delay, most of those tools have now become outdated, sources said.
The state police have constituted cyber cells in all the districts, the average strength of the cyber cells in less than five. Sources also said that the police personnel being posted at the cyber police station as well as the cyber cells are not being given proper training.
“Cyber forensics is a field that is undergoing rapid progress and hence it is essential that the cyber police officials are kept updated,” said a police officer who requested anonymity. Moreover, many technically qualified police officials are not posted in the cyber cell. DGP Jacob Punnoose, however, said that compared to other states in India, the cyber police of Kerala had been more effective.
“Cyber crimes are an evolving process and hence a specialised system to counter it is yet to be structured. It is expertise that matters and not the numbers. Our aim is to make all police officials in the state capable of dealing with basic cyber crimes,” he said.
With the use of cyber and mobile phone applications keep on increasing, the number of offences in these sectors will also be in the upward trend in the coming years. Hence the government should make immediate steps to ensure a effective cyber policing in the state, say experts.
The New Indian Express
04 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite a whopping increase in the number of cyber crimes in the state over the past few years, the state’s cyber police still remain illequipped to contain the menace, both in terms of manpower and infrastructure.
While the number of complaints pertaining to the cyber and mobile-related crimes in the state that were received by the police during 2010 touched a whopping 80,000, the strength of the state cyber police force remains around 80.
More pitiable is that the request placed by the cyber police for procuring advanced cyber forensic tools two years ago still remains on paper.
The Hi-Tech Crime Enquiry Cell attached to the Police Headquarters here, deals with advanced cyber and mobile crimes, alone had handled 4,440 investigations during 2010 as against 584 in 2007 - an increase by manifolds.
While the total number of petitions received by the state’s cyber police units during 2009 was around 37,000, it has almost touched 80,000 in 2010, a majority of which are mobile phone thefts.
The only Cyber Police station in the state having jurisdiction of the entire state was set up in 2009. However, the government is yet to sanction any posts for the police station.
At present the DySP of the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) is holding the additional charge of the cyber police station and 10 police officials including a circleinspector, sub-inspectors and constables are posted on working arrangement, whereas the Cyber Police station of the neighbouring Karnataka is headed by a SP and has four DySPs, eight CIs and SIs each and more than 20 constables. It is more pitiable that the request for cyber forensic tools for a set of Cyber Police Station still remains on the papers. Owing to the inordinate delay, most of those tools have now become outdated, sources said.
The state police have constituted cyber cells in all the districts, the average strength of the cyber cells in less than five. Sources also said that the police personnel being posted at the cyber police station as well as the cyber cells are not being given proper training.
“Cyber forensics is a field that is undergoing rapid progress and hence it is essential that the cyber police officials are kept updated,” said a police officer who requested anonymity. Moreover, many technically qualified police officials are not posted in the cyber cell. DGP Jacob Punnoose, however, said that compared to other states in India, the cyber police of Kerala had been more effective.
“Cyber crimes are an evolving process and hence a specialised system to counter it is yet to be structured. It is expertise that matters and not the numbers. Our aim is to make all police officials in the state capable of dealing with basic cyber crimes,” he said.
With the use of cyber and mobile phone applications keep on increasing, the number of offences in these sectors will also be in the upward trend in the coming years. Hence the government should make immediate steps to ensure a effective cyber policing in the state, say experts.
Sunday 3 April 2011
Sampath custodial death: CBI probe raises knotty questions
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian
03 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI probe into the custodial death of Sampath seems to be derailing from the popular objective of bringing the real culprits before the law and instead snowballing into an internal clash within the nation’s premier investigation agency.
The ‘timely’ leaking out of the information regarding the arraigning of two IPS officers in the case as well as the differences between the CBI top brass and investigating officers over arraigning the two IPS officers, has led to a fresh stand-off within the CBI, which may prove detrimental to a fair probe into the sensational custodial death which occurred in March 2010 at Palakkad.
CBI DySP P G Haridath had filed a report before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kochi on February 2 naming the former Thrissur range IG Mohammed Yasin, Palakkad former SP Vijay Sakhare and 16 others as accused in the case.
However the information got leaked out only after two months, on April 1, that too a couple of hours after the Supreme Court directed that the investigation should be carried out under the strict supervision of a CBI joint director.
This has raised many an eyebrow as it is widely believed that the information was deliberately leaked out due to the stand- off between the investigation team and the CBI higher-ups.
The investigating officers in the case had earlier stated before the High Court that they were facing threat and undue pressure from the top.
Subsequently, the court had ordered that no senior official should interfere with the investigation.
After the CBI headquarters got complaints that the probe was not progressing in the right direction, a senior SP, R R Sahayi, was deputed to review the investigation.
But the investigation officer had refused to hand over the case diary.
Subsequently, the CBI headquarters approached the Supreme Court and the court on Friday directed that the probe should be closely monitored by a joint director. The move of the investigating officer to arraign two IPS officers as accused in the case, even without taking their statements, as well as to seek arrest warrants has come as a surprise.
“In case an official is arraigned as accused in a case, the normal practice is to inform the head of the department in which the accused officer is working and proceed with the arrest. A warrant is sought only if the official is evading arrest,” police sources pointed out.
A section in the state police strongly suspects the influence of a Bangalorebased spirit mafia don on the CBI to implicate Vijay Sakhare, who is now serving as DIG in Border Security Force. Two Bangalore-based spirit smugglers were booked by Sakhare while serving as the Palakkad SP. It is pointed out that though Sampath belonged to a poor family, his family has been engaging leading lawyers both in the Supreme Court and the High Court. “How the family meets the heavy fees of these leading lawyers remain mysterious,” a police officer said.
It is also pointed out that the mobile phone records of Yasin had clearly vindicated that he had not gone to Malampuzha during the time when Sampath was subjected to custodial torture. Yasin is now serving as managing director of Kerala Police Housing Construction Corporation.
Investigating officer summoned
CBI DySP Haridath was summoned to CBI headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday.
CBI sources said that it was following the Supreme Court directive on Friday that the investigating officer was directed to report to the CBI headquarters with the case diary.
There are also unconfirmed reports that IPS officers Yasin and Sakhare are planning to approach the court against the CBI’s decision to arraign them as accused in the case.
The New Indian
03 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI probe into the custodial death of Sampath seems to be derailing from the popular objective of bringing the real culprits before the law and instead snowballing into an internal clash within the nation’s premier investigation agency.
The ‘timely’ leaking out of the information regarding the arraigning of two IPS officers in the case as well as the differences between the CBI top brass and investigating officers over arraigning the two IPS officers, has led to a fresh stand-off within the CBI, which may prove detrimental to a fair probe into the sensational custodial death which occurred in March 2010 at Palakkad.
CBI DySP P G Haridath had filed a report before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kochi on February 2 naming the former Thrissur range IG Mohammed Yasin, Palakkad former SP Vijay Sakhare and 16 others as accused in the case.
However the information got leaked out only after two months, on April 1, that too a couple of hours after the Supreme Court directed that the investigation should be carried out under the strict supervision of a CBI joint director.
This has raised many an eyebrow as it is widely believed that the information was deliberately leaked out due to the stand- off between the investigation team and the CBI higher-ups.
The investigating officers in the case had earlier stated before the High Court that they were facing threat and undue pressure from the top.
Subsequently, the court had ordered that no senior official should interfere with the investigation.
After the CBI headquarters got complaints that the probe was not progressing in the right direction, a senior SP, R R Sahayi, was deputed to review the investigation.
But the investigation officer had refused to hand over the case diary.
Subsequently, the CBI headquarters approached the Supreme Court and the court on Friday directed that the probe should be closely monitored by a joint director. The move of the investigating officer to arraign two IPS officers as accused in the case, even without taking their statements, as well as to seek arrest warrants has come as a surprise.
“In case an official is arraigned as accused in a case, the normal practice is to inform the head of the department in which the accused officer is working and proceed with the arrest. A warrant is sought only if the official is evading arrest,” police sources pointed out.
A section in the state police strongly suspects the influence of a Bangalorebased spirit mafia don on the CBI to implicate Vijay Sakhare, who is now serving as DIG in Border Security Force. Two Bangalore-based spirit smugglers were booked by Sakhare while serving as the Palakkad SP. It is pointed out that though Sampath belonged to a poor family, his family has been engaging leading lawyers both in the Supreme Court and the High Court. “How the family meets the heavy fees of these leading lawyers remain mysterious,” a police officer said.
It is also pointed out that the mobile phone records of Yasin had clearly vindicated that he had not gone to Malampuzha during the time when Sampath was subjected to custodial torture. Yasin is now serving as managing director of Kerala Police Housing Construction Corporation.
Investigating officer summoned
CBI DySP Haridath was summoned to CBI headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday.
CBI sources said that it was following the Supreme Court directive on Friday that the investigating officer was directed to report to the CBI headquarters with the case diary.
There are also unconfirmed reports that IPS officers Yasin and Sakhare are planning to approach the court against the CBI’s decision to arraign them as accused in the case.
Prison ‘vacancies’ filling up
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
03 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prisons in the state are witnessing a steep increase in the number of inmates these days, thanks to the election season hotting up.
More persons are being arrested and remanded in prisons in petty cases.
The total number of prisoners has gone up from 6,100 about two weeks ago to around 6,400 now.
“We had witnessed a similar increase in the number of prisoners during the recent local bodies elections also,” says Additional DGP (Prisons) Alexander Jacob. The prison population had gone up to around 6,800 during the local bodies elections. However, these figures will come down soon as those held in these cases will normally get bail after a 14-day judicial remand period, he says.
Police sources say that during election time, there will be a number of complaints pertaining to election campaign and the police will be forced to take immediate action owing to political pressure. Moreover, no political leader will interfere with the arrest to avoid any controversy.
The arrested will also lose a chance to cast their votes.
The New Indian Express
03 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prisons in the state are witnessing a steep increase in the number of inmates these days, thanks to the election season hotting up.
More persons are being arrested and remanded in prisons in petty cases.
The total number of prisoners has gone up from 6,100 about two weeks ago to around 6,400 now.
“We had witnessed a similar increase in the number of prisoners during the recent local bodies elections also,” says Additional DGP (Prisons) Alexander Jacob. The prison population had gone up to around 6,800 during the local bodies elections. However, these figures will come down soon as those held in these cases will normally get bail after a 14-day judicial remand period, he says.
Police sources say that during election time, there will be a number of complaints pertaining to election campaign and the police will be forced to take immediate action owing to political pressure. Moreover, no political leader will interfere with the arrest to avoid any controversy.
The arrested will also lose a chance to cast their votes.
Saturday 2 April 2011
Confidence vs Development @ Kazhakoottam
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
02 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The once remote Kazhakkoottam, which now finds a prominent place in the world’s IT map with the setting up of Asia’s first IT park, is witnessing a fierce battle between the two candidates who pin their hope on two different aspects; changes in political demography and development initiatives.
Two-time MLA M A Vaheed, who is the UDF candidate, is cashing in on the development programmes that he has initiated in the Kazhakkoottam constituency over the last one decade, whereas LDF candidate, C Ajayakumar of the CPM, is pinning his hopes mainly on the changes in the political demography of the constituency.
Following delimitation, certain parts of the constituency such as Andoorkonam, Kadinamkulam and Pothencode where Vaheed as well as the UDF had a strong influence, got detached from the Kazhakkoottam constituency. Similarly, certain other areas such as Ulloor and Kadakampally, where the LDF got an upper hand, have been attached to the constituency.
"The changes brought about by the delimitation process is indeed an advantage to the LDF, besides various other factors," Ajayakumar told ‘Express’ amidst his busy election campaigning near Ulloor on Friday.
However, the two-time MLA Vaheed is trying to overcome this adverse factor by highlighting the developments he had initiated in the constituency and nearby areas during the past one decade.
"I do not need an introduction in Kazhakkoottam as the people here know me very well. I made this possible with the massive developments I have brought in to the constituency over the past one decade. Kazhakkoottam now has all the facilities as that of a city,” says Vaheed.
For the people of Kazhakkoottam it was quite a different experience to watch Vaheed travelling in an open jeep, as he often travels through the constituency on his Yezdi motorcycle. “Indeed, Vaheed is more familiar to us than Ajayakumar,” says a shopkeeper at Sreekaryam.
Countering the claims of Vaheed with regard to the development initiatives, Ajayakumar, who was a former chairman of the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority, lists out the development initiatives he had initiated which includes new shopping complexes and road widening.
While Vaheed lists out the infrastructure development he had brought in, Ajayakumar counters it.
"Many panchayats in Kazhakkoottam are still waiting for electricity and other basic infrastructure. Is it the type of development that we require?” Ajayakumar asks.
Among the list of development initiatives of Vaheed are the film and video park and the apparel park of KINFRA. “Both the projects would not have attained the present heights without my initiative,” says Vaheed.
Both the UDF and the LDF candidates are claiming credit for the development of the Technopark over these years. However, both the Fronts have decided to keep off Technopark campus from campaigning. “We do not want to disturb the atmosphere on Technopark campus and hence, are not campaigning on the campus though a good number of IT professionals are now voters of the constituency, "says Vaheed. Amidst the positive and negative factors that both the Fronts share, the UDF and the LDF are quite neck and neck in the campaign front and both the candidates are confident of making it with a clear majority.
In the meantime, the BJP candidate is also pinning hopes on the changes brought in by delimitation.
“With the delimitation, various areas such as Karikkakom, Cheruvaikkal and Edavakode where the BJP has a considerable support, are attached to the constituency. Hence, it will be advantage BJP this time,” says party candidate Padmakumar.
Padmakumar, who is confident of giving a tough fight to both the UDF and the LDF, is mainly highlighting the ‘failure’ of both the Fronts in bringing development to Kazhakkoottam, especially with regard to the development of roads.
The New Indian Express
02 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The once remote Kazhakkoottam, which now finds a prominent place in the world’s IT map with the setting up of Asia’s first IT park, is witnessing a fierce battle between the two candidates who pin their hope on two different aspects; changes in political demography and development initiatives.
Two-time MLA M A Vaheed, who is the UDF candidate, is cashing in on the development programmes that he has initiated in the Kazhakkoottam constituency over the last one decade, whereas LDF candidate, C Ajayakumar of the CPM, is pinning his hopes mainly on the changes in the political demography of the constituency.
Following delimitation, certain parts of the constituency such as Andoorkonam, Kadinamkulam and Pothencode where Vaheed as well as the UDF had a strong influence, got detached from the Kazhakkoottam constituency. Similarly, certain other areas such as Ulloor and Kadakampally, where the LDF got an upper hand, have been attached to the constituency.
"The changes brought about by the delimitation process is indeed an advantage to the LDF, besides various other factors," Ajayakumar told ‘Express’ amidst his busy election campaigning near Ulloor on Friday.
However, the two-time MLA Vaheed is trying to overcome this adverse factor by highlighting the developments he had initiated in the constituency and nearby areas during the past one decade.
"I do not need an introduction in Kazhakkoottam as the people here know me very well. I made this possible with the massive developments I have brought in to the constituency over the past one decade. Kazhakkoottam now has all the facilities as that of a city,” says Vaheed.
For the people of Kazhakkoottam it was quite a different experience to watch Vaheed travelling in an open jeep, as he often travels through the constituency on his Yezdi motorcycle. “Indeed, Vaheed is more familiar to us than Ajayakumar,” says a shopkeeper at Sreekaryam.
Countering the claims of Vaheed with regard to the development initiatives, Ajayakumar, who was a former chairman of the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority, lists out the development initiatives he had initiated which includes new shopping complexes and road widening.
While Vaheed lists out the infrastructure development he had brought in, Ajayakumar counters it.
"Many panchayats in Kazhakkoottam are still waiting for electricity and other basic infrastructure. Is it the type of development that we require?” Ajayakumar asks.
Among the list of development initiatives of Vaheed are the film and video park and the apparel park of KINFRA. “Both the projects would not have attained the present heights without my initiative,” says Vaheed.
Both the UDF and the LDF candidates are claiming credit for the development of the Technopark over these years. However, both the Fronts have decided to keep off Technopark campus from campaigning. “We do not want to disturb the atmosphere on Technopark campus and hence, are not campaigning on the campus though a good number of IT professionals are now voters of the constituency, "says Vaheed. Amidst the positive and negative factors that both the Fronts share, the UDF and the LDF are quite neck and neck in the campaign front and both the candidates are confident of making it with a clear majority.
In the meantime, the BJP candidate is also pinning hopes on the changes brought in by delimitation.
“With the delimitation, various areas such as Karikkakom, Cheruvaikkal and Edavakode where the BJP has a considerable support, are attached to the constituency. Hence, it will be advantage BJP this time,” says party candidate Padmakumar.
Padmakumar, who is confident of giving a tough fight to both the UDF and the LDF, is mainly highlighting the ‘failure’ of both the Fronts in bringing development to Kazhakkoottam, especially with regard to the development of roads.
Wednesday 30 March 2011
No freedom to vote
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 6,000-odd prisoners in the state have to remain mute witnesses to the electoral process. However, this time they could heave a sigh of relief that a famous legislator is one among them.
The one-year rigorous imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case has played spoilsport for Kerala Congress(B) leader and former Minister R Balakrishna Pillai’s desire to contest the polls. He may also be deprived of a chance to cast his vote. The only ray of hope before Pillai is the outcome of a curative petition that he had filed before the Supreme Court against the judgment in the Idamalayar case.
“At present, we do not have any rules that allow a prisoner to cast his vote,” says Additional DGP (prisons) Alexander Jacob. However, it is a sigh of relief for the prisoners that the new prison rules that have been mooted by the Prisons Department provide for voting rights for the prisoners. But the draft of the new rules is only under the consideration of the government.
At present, there are 6,384 prisoners in the state, of whom 2,700 are convicts. The remaining include remand prisoners, undertrials and those kept in preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (Goonda Act).
Though there is no provision for prisoners to exercise their franchise, in case if a prisoner is on parole on any other grounds during the polling day, he may be able to cast his vote, provided his name is there in the electoral roll.
However, the Election Commission will be strictly scrutinising all parole applications. Hence the chance of getting parole on flimsy grounds is rare, say sources.
Over these years, discussions had taken place at various platforms across the nation regarding the denial of voting rights to prisoners. However, it still remains a distant dream in a country like India which boasts of being the largest democracy.
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 6,000-odd prisoners in the state have to remain mute witnesses to the electoral process. However, this time they could heave a sigh of relief that a famous legislator is one among them.
The one-year rigorous imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case has played spoilsport for Kerala Congress(B) leader and former Minister R Balakrishna Pillai’s desire to contest the polls. He may also be deprived of a chance to cast his vote. The only ray of hope before Pillai is the outcome of a curative petition that he had filed before the Supreme Court against the judgment in the Idamalayar case.
“At present, we do not have any rules that allow a prisoner to cast his vote,” says Additional DGP (prisons) Alexander Jacob. However, it is a sigh of relief for the prisoners that the new prison rules that have been mooted by the Prisons Department provide for voting rights for the prisoners. But the draft of the new rules is only under the consideration of the government.
At present, there are 6,384 prisoners in the state, of whom 2,700 are convicts. The remaining include remand prisoners, undertrials and those kept in preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (Goonda Act).
Though there is no provision for prisoners to exercise their franchise, in case if a prisoner is on parole on any other grounds during the polling day, he may be able to cast his vote, provided his name is there in the electoral roll.
However, the Election Commission will be strictly scrutinising all parole applications. Hence the chance of getting parole on flimsy grounds is rare, say sources.
Over these years, discussions had taken place at various platforms across the nation regarding the denial of voting rights to prisoners. However, it still remains a distant dream in a country like India which boasts of being the largest democracy.
DGP rank denied to Pulikeshi
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Additional Director General of Police (Training) C S Pulikeshi has been denied promotion to the rank of Director General of Police.
A selection committee headed by Chief Secretary P Prabhakaran which met here on Monday decided to supercede the seniority of Pulikeshi, who is an IPS officer of the 1977 batch, as he had been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case pertaining to the Civil Supplies Corporation.
The committee also cleared the names of IPS officers of the 1978 batch ADGP (Vigilance) Netto Desmond, ADGP K S Balasubramanian (who is on Central deputation) and ADGP (Headquarters) K S Jangpangi for promotion to the rank of DGP. However, fresh postings are likely to be given to these officers only after the new government assumes office.
The selection committee, which also comprised of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K Jayakumar and DGP Jacob Punnoose, came to the conclusion that Pulikeshi is not fit for promotion as he had been chargesheeted by the CBI in a case pertaining to corruption in Civil Supplies Corporation while he was the chairman and managing director of the corporation. The name of Pulikeshi could be considered for promotion to the rank of DGP only once he is cleared of the case, the committee observed.
It was following the voluntary retirement of Siby Mathews and retirement of K P Somarajan that the promotions are being made. Both of them were IPS officers of the 1977 batch and were in the rank of DGP.
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Additional Director General of Police (Training) C S Pulikeshi has been denied promotion to the rank of Director General of Police.
A selection committee headed by Chief Secretary P Prabhakaran which met here on Monday decided to supercede the seniority of Pulikeshi, who is an IPS officer of the 1977 batch, as he had been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case pertaining to the Civil Supplies Corporation.
The committee also cleared the names of IPS officers of the 1978 batch ADGP (Vigilance) Netto Desmond, ADGP K S Balasubramanian (who is on Central deputation) and ADGP (Headquarters) K S Jangpangi for promotion to the rank of DGP. However, fresh postings are likely to be given to these officers only after the new government assumes office.
The selection committee, which also comprised of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K Jayakumar and DGP Jacob Punnoose, came to the conclusion that Pulikeshi is not fit for promotion as he had been chargesheeted by the CBI in a case pertaining to corruption in Civil Supplies Corporation while he was the chairman and managing director of the corporation. The name of Pulikeshi could be considered for promotion to the rank of DGP only once he is cleared of the case, the committee observed.
It was following the voluntary retirement of Siby Mathews and retirement of K P Somarajan that the promotions are being made. Both of them were IPS officers of the 1977 batch and were in the rank of DGP.
Thursday 24 March 2011
Pillai’s Somersault owing to complulsions
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
24 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The somersault made by Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai from his decision to contest the Assembly elections from behind the bars, seems to be ignited not only by the political pressure from the UDF camp, but also by the realisation that there remained legal hurdles which are hard to overcome.
Interpreting various provisions in the relevant Acts, senior lawyers point out that it would not be a cakewalk for Pillai who is undergoing oneyear imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case.
The legal opinion obtained by Pillai in his favour had pointed out that Pillai was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) of 1947, whereas the Representation of the People Act only disqualified a person convicted under the PC Act of 1988 from contesting the elections for a period of up to six years
after the end of the sentence.
However, countering this argument, another section of lawyers point out that Section 30 of the PC Act 1988 repeals and saves all provisions in the PC Act of 1947 and hence the legal opinion in favour of Pillai won't stand. Senior lawyers Thampan Thomas and Cheruniyoor Sasidharan Nair share the same view.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Pillai was originally convicted by the Sessions court for five years. But the Supreme Court had relaxed the conviction considering a prayer of Pillai to consider his illhealth.
Hence, if Pillai tries to exploit this concession
it would amount to
misrepresentation in the court.
The New Indian Express
24 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The somersault made by Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai from his decision to contest the Assembly elections from behind the bars, seems to be ignited not only by the political pressure from the UDF camp, but also by the realisation that there remained legal hurdles which are hard to overcome.
Interpreting various provisions in the relevant Acts, senior lawyers point out that it would not be a cakewalk for Pillai who is undergoing oneyear imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case.
The legal opinion obtained by Pillai in his favour had pointed out that Pillai was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) of 1947, whereas the Representation of the People Act only disqualified a person convicted under the PC Act of 1988 from contesting the elections for a period of up to six years
after the end of the sentence.
However, countering this argument, another section of lawyers point out that Section 30 of the PC Act 1988 repeals and saves all provisions in the PC Act of 1947 and hence the legal opinion in favour of Pillai won't stand. Senior lawyers Thampan Thomas and Cheruniyoor Sasidharan Nair share the same view.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Pillai was originally convicted by the Sessions court for five years. But the Supreme Court had relaxed the conviction considering a prayer of Pillai to consider his illhealth.
Hence, if Pillai tries to exploit this concession
it would amount to
misrepresentation in the court.
Tuesday 22 March 2011
Akshaya to join Keltron in enrolment works
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
21 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Succumbing to stiff objection from various quarters, the State Government revoked its earlier decision which had denied Akshaya role in the enrolment works for the nation's flagship Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district and assigned the same to Keltron.
The government has now decided that Keltron and Akshaya will jointly do the enrolment works both in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts where UID enrolment had been piloted last month.
While Keltron will cover the urban areas in both these districts, Akshaya will cover the rural areas.
A modified government order in this regard was issued by the State Information Technology department the other day.
The Askshya entrepreneurs were up in arms against the earlier decision of the government to hand over the enrolment of UID in entire Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron. It was a jolt to the 200odd Akshaya entrepreneurs who were gearing up to take up the enrolment works following an earlier assurance from the government.
Enrolment to UID is quite an attractive affair as the UID Authority will pay around `38 for enrolling each person.
Akshaya entrepreneurs in Alappuzha district had already enrolled at least 1,000
persons.
"We are receiving a good response from the people towards UID enrolment. Even Akshaya entrepreneurs from other districts are coming down to Alappuzha district to get enrolled," said All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association president T S Chandran.
The association had earlier submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister against the decision to hand over the enrolment works in Thiruvananthapuram to Keltron.
It was after much dillydallying that the State Government had launched UID enrolment here on February 24.
Use of propriety software for the enrolment and ideological objections raised by certain quarters over the collection of personal data of individuals had indeed delayed the launch of UID enrolment in Kerala.
The UID project, popularly known as Aadhaar, envisages maintaining a data base of the personal information including biometric identification marks of all citizens of India and issuing an Unique Identification number and identity card to each citizen.
Many other states are far ahead in the enrolment process.
The New Indian Express
21 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Succumbing to stiff objection from various quarters, the State Government revoked its earlier decision which had denied Akshaya role in the enrolment works for the nation's flagship Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district and assigned the same to Keltron.
The government has now decided that Keltron and Akshaya will jointly do the enrolment works both in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts where UID enrolment had been piloted last month.
While Keltron will cover the urban areas in both these districts, Akshaya will cover the rural areas.
A modified government order in this regard was issued by the State Information Technology department the other day.
The Askshya entrepreneurs were up in arms against the earlier decision of the government to hand over the enrolment of UID in entire Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron. It was a jolt to the 200odd Akshaya entrepreneurs who were gearing up to take up the enrolment works following an earlier assurance from the government.
Enrolment to UID is quite an attractive affair as the UID Authority will pay around `38 for enrolling each person.
Akshaya entrepreneurs in Alappuzha district had already enrolled at least 1,000
persons.
"We are receiving a good response from the people towards UID enrolment. Even Akshaya entrepreneurs from other districts are coming down to Alappuzha district to get enrolled," said All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association president T S Chandran.
The association had earlier submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister against the decision to hand over the enrolment works in Thiruvananthapuram to Keltron.
It was after much dillydallying that the State Government had launched UID enrolment here on February 24.
Use of propriety software for the enrolment and ideological objections raised by certain quarters over the collection of personal data of individuals had indeed delayed the launch of UID enrolment in Kerala.
The UID project, popularly known as Aadhaar, envisages maintaining a data base of the personal information including biometric identification marks of all citizens of India and issuing an Unique Identification number and identity card to each citizen.
Many other states are far ahead in the enrolment process.
Friday 18 March 2011
Curbs on emigration to Bahrain, Yemen
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
19 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Central Government has imposed restrictions on emigrations to strife-torn Bahrain and Yemen. The Centre had earlier imposed a similar restriction on emigrations to Libya.
The Overseas Indian Affairs Department has directed the Protectors of Emigrants to impose a temporary ban on emigrations to Bahrain and Yemen for one month.
''We have received the communication in this regard the other day and hence, we are not giving any emigration clearance to these countries these days,'' Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvananthapuram Pradeep A said.
The Centre had earlier issued a twomonth ban on emigrations to Libya.
However, though the Centre had imposed a ban on granting emigration clearance, it is not applicable to those who do not require emigration clearance. Emigration clearance is now applicable only to those who had not passed SSLC. Hence, many are still going to the troubleaffected West Asian countries, sources said.
The emigration officials at airports are briefing those going to these countries about the situation prevailing there. ''We are asking those going to the troubled countries to postpone their journey until the situation gets back to normal. However, many are forced to go in order to retain their jobs,'' said Port Registration Officer at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Vimal.
Mystery over the death
Meanwhile, mystery shrouds the death of Stephan Abraham, of Pathanamthitta district, in Bahrain on Wednesday. Though the initial reports suggested that Stephan suffered bullet injury when security forces fired at agitators from helicopters, the company authorities are suspicious about this.
M D Mathew, chief executive officer of Almoayyed Contracting Firm, where Stephan was working as a security official, said that though he had taken the statements of other workers about the incident, they did not mention about the presence of any security personnel or firing from the helicopter in the locality at the time of the incident. ''It is suspected that the bullets had entered the room through the windows. But the source of the bullet remains mysterious. Hence, we are seeking a detailed probe into the incident,'' Mathew told 'Express' over phone from Bahrain.
He said that the body of Stephan would be brought back by Sunday. The Almoayyed firm will take care of the family of Stephan, Mathew said. Stephan, who was earlier serving in the Indian Army, had also taken part in the Kargil war. He had joined the security wing of Almoayyed, which is a leading firm in Bahrain, around oneandahalf years ago.
The New Indian Express
19 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Central Government has imposed restrictions on emigrations to strife-torn Bahrain and Yemen. The Centre had earlier imposed a similar restriction on emigrations to Libya.
The Overseas Indian Affairs Department has directed the Protectors of Emigrants to impose a temporary ban on emigrations to Bahrain and Yemen for one month.
''We have received the communication in this regard the other day and hence, we are not giving any emigration clearance to these countries these days,'' Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvananthapuram Pradeep A said.
The Centre had earlier issued a twomonth ban on emigrations to Libya.
However, though the Centre had imposed a ban on granting emigration clearance, it is not applicable to those who do not require emigration clearance. Emigration clearance is now applicable only to those who had not passed SSLC. Hence, many are still going to the troubleaffected West Asian countries, sources said.
The emigration officials at airports are briefing those going to these countries about the situation prevailing there. ''We are asking those going to the troubled countries to postpone their journey until the situation gets back to normal. However, many are forced to go in order to retain their jobs,'' said Port Registration Officer at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Vimal.
Mystery over the death
Meanwhile, mystery shrouds the death of Stephan Abraham, of Pathanamthitta district, in Bahrain on Wednesday. Though the initial reports suggested that Stephan suffered bullet injury when security forces fired at agitators from helicopters, the company authorities are suspicious about this.
M D Mathew, chief executive officer of Almoayyed Contracting Firm, where Stephan was working as a security official, said that though he had taken the statements of other workers about the incident, they did not mention about the presence of any security personnel or firing from the helicopter in the locality at the time of the incident. ''It is suspected that the bullets had entered the room through the windows. But the source of the bullet remains mysterious. Hence, we are seeking a detailed probe into the incident,'' Mathew told 'Express' over phone from Bahrain.
He said that the body of Stephan would be brought back by Sunday. The Almoayyed firm will take care of the family of Stephan, Mathew said. Stephan, who was earlier serving in the Indian Army, had also taken part in the Kargil war. He had joined the security wing of Almoayyed, which is a leading firm in Bahrain, around oneandahalf years ago.
Thursday 17 March 2011
N0RKA gearing up to face any eventuality
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
17 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: WITH three-month emergency being clamped in the West Asian country of Bahrain, the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) Department is once again gearing up to meet any eventuality.
The crisis in Bahrain followed the recent mass eviction from another West Asian nation Libya and the NoRKA Department had made elaborate arrangements in New Delhi and Mumbai for a trouble-free transit of the evictees to their home towns.
Following the crisis in Bahrain, top officials in the NoRKA Department are in constant touch with the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs as well as the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry.
It is estimated that there are nearly three lakh Indians in Bahrain, one-third of which is Malayalis.
“The feedback we have received from the Centre is that the situation in Bahrain is so far not so alarming. Especially following the intervention of the troops from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Bahrain administration seems to be gaining control over the agitators and there is no need for any immediate eviction of Indians,” sources in the NoRKA Department said.
“The Centre would initiate any measures such as mass eviction from another country only as an extreme step as diplomatic matters are concerned,” sources added.Besides Bahrain, the agitations in Yemen and Oman are also matters of concern for India as there is considerable number of Indians in these countries.
Either the NoRKA Department or its field agency NoRKA-Roots had not yet received any personal requests from Malayalis from these countries seeking help.
Recruiting Agents Association of Kerala president and a businessman in Bahrain B Vivek said that there was no major cause for concern for the Indians in Bahrain for the time being as things were quite under control.
“Since the communication systems were slightly affected many are not able to keep be in touch with their relatives. However, with the intervention of troops from Saudi Arabia things are quite under control,” he said adding that things were expected to be back to become normal in the coming days.
Express had earlier reported that the unrest in the West Asian countries may affect the job prospects of thousands of Indians, including Keralites. It would even have its repercussions on Kerala economy as remittances from NRKs constitute about 25 percent of the total deposits received by the banks in the state.
The New Indian Express
17 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: WITH three-month emergency being clamped in the West Asian country of Bahrain, the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) Department is once again gearing up to meet any eventuality.
The crisis in Bahrain followed the recent mass eviction from another West Asian nation Libya and the NoRKA Department had made elaborate arrangements in New Delhi and Mumbai for a trouble-free transit of the evictees to their home towns.
Following the crisis in Bahrain, top officials in the NoRKA Department are in constant touch with the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs as well as the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry.
It is estimated that there are nearly three lakh Indians in Bahrain, one-third of which is Malayalis.
“The feedback we have received from the Centre is that the situation in Bahrain is so far not so alarming. Especially following the intervention of the troops from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Bahrain administration seems to be gaining control over the agitators and there is no need for any immediate eviction of Indians,” sources in the NoRKA Department said.
“The Centre would initiate any measures such as mass eviction from another country only as an extreme step as diplomatic matters are concerned,” sources added.Besides Bahrain, the agitations in Yemen and Oman are also matters of concern for India as there is considerable number of Indians in these countries.
Either the NoRKA Department or its field agency NoRKA-Roots had not yet received any personal requests from Malayalis from these countries seeking help.
Recruiting Agents Association of Kerala president and a businessman in Bahrain B Vivek said that there was no major cause for concern for the Indians in Bahrain for the time being as things were quite under control.
“Since the communication systems were slightly affected many are not able to keep be in touch with their relatives. However, with the intervention of troops from Saudi Arabia things are quite under control,” he said adding that things were expected to be back to become normal in the coming days.
Express had earlier reported that the unrest in the West Asian countries may affect the job prospects of thousands of Indians, including Keralites. It would even have its repercussions on Kerala economy as remittances from NRKs constitute about 25 percent of the total deposits received by the banks in the state.
Wednesday 16 March 2011
No sweet 'home' for Home minister
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
16 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Rajan case, Naxal Varghese case, Chalai and Poonthura riots, Marad massacre, police actions at Muthanga and Sivagiri, ThankamaniUdayakumar custodial tortures the list of law and order issues that figured in the previous election campaigns is long. To his credit, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has not left behind any major embarrassing situation for the government at least on electioneve. However, the campaign may be vitiated by the CheriyathuraKasargod police firings which claimed several lives, Sampath custodial death, chopping of Prof T J Joseph's palm and the political violence in Kannur.
Kodiyeri made various initiatives in the Police Department, including the enactment of new Kerala Police Act and the Kerala AntiSocial Activities Prevention Act, strengthening of community policing system by giving it legal sanctity, forming Home Guard and Student Police units and streamlining the recruitment process in the department. He also brought in cosmetic changes in the police like replacing the riflecarrying sentries in front of police stations and setting up of visitor's desk at the police station. However, he did not make any remarkable improvement in the law and order situation in the state.
The vital statistics of the Kodiyeri reign reveal the following. Nearly 2,000 murders, over 30,000 incidents of harassment against women and children, 12 custodial deaths, over 30 complaints of custodial torture and robbery of valuables worth over `300 crore. There is a huge trust deficit between the people and the police.
Kodiyeri had allowed his party cadre to exert pressure on the cops as a result of which Left activists forcibly released political activists from police stations. The Police Department was politicised in transfers, postings and routine policing. His political bosses forced Kodiyeri to act against IG Rishiraj Singh for raiding the digital studio of IG Tomin Thachankary's wife. Thachankary, connected with a section in the CPM top brass, was also given a key posting as IG Kannurrange, despite a strict directive from Chief Minister that the tainted officer should not be posted in key posts. The proLeft cadre in the police also gained more strength with the silent blessings of Kodiyeri. He held the Vigilance portfolio but failed to wipe out corruption from the government, especially the Police Department.
Kodiyeri landed in a number of controversies, including the lavish refurbishing of his official residence. He was also haunted by the alleged nexus of his son Bineesh with shady characters like Sabarinath, Omprakash, Madathil Reghu and even a foreign call girl, hifi reception allegedly organised by controversial business man Xavy Mano Mathew during his elder son Benoy Kodiyeri's marriage and the 'poomoodal' ritual at the Kadampuzha Devi temple in his name.
The New Indian Express
16 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Rajan case, Naxal Varghese case, Chalai and Poonthura riots, Marad massacre, police actions at Muthanga and Sivagiri, ThankamaniUdayakumar custodial tortures the list of law and order issues that figured in the previous election campaigns is long. To his credit, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has not left behind any major embarrassing situation for the government at least on electioneve. However, the campaign may be vitiated by the CheriyathuraKasargod police firings which claimed several lives, Sampath custodial death, chopping of Prof T J Joseph's palm and the political violence in Kannur.
Kodiyeri made various initiatives in the Police Department, including the enactment of new Kerala Police Act and the Kerala AntiSocial Activities Prevention Act, strengthening of community policing system by giving it legal sanctity, forming Home Guard and Student Police units and streamlining the recruitment process in the department. He also brought in cosmetic changes in the police like replacing the riflecarrying sentries in front of police stations and setting up of visitor's desk at the police station. However, he did not make any remarkable improvement in the law and order situation in the state.
The vital statistics of the Kodiyeri reign reveal the following. Nearly 2,000 murders, over 30,000 incidents of harassment against women and children, 12 custodial deaths, over 30 complaints of custodial torture and robbery of valuables worth over `300 crore. There is a huge trust deficit between the people and the police.
Kodiyeri had allowed his party cadre to exert pressure on the cops as a result of which Left activists forcibly released political activists from police stations. The Police Department was politicised in transfers, postings and routine policing. His political bosses forced Kodiyeri to act against IG Rishiraj Singh for raiding the digital studio of IG Tomin Thachankary's wife. Thachankary, connected with a section in the CPM top brass, was also given a key posting as IG Kannurrange, despite a strict directive from Chief Minister that the tainted officer should not be posted in key posts. The proLeft cadre in the police also gained more strength with the silent blessings of Kodiyeri. He held the Vigilance portfolio but failed to wipe out corruption from the government, especially the Police Department.
Kodiyeri landed in a number of controversies, including the lavish refurbishing of his official residence. He was also haunted by the alleged nexus of his son Bineesh with shady characters like Sabarinath, Omprakash, Madathil Reghu and even a foreign call girl, hifi reception allegedly organised by controversial business man Xavy Mano Mathew during his elder son Benoy Kodiyeri's marriage and the 'poomoodal' ritual at the Kadampuzha Devi temple in his name.
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Chandy pops up as new target of Achuthanandan
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
15 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: While digging out the alleged corruption in the palmolein import deal, comrade V S Achuthanandan would have never ever dreamt that the case would create this much repercussions in Kerala politics.
Though K Karunakaran was the target of Achuthanandan while he took up the issue two decades ago, the deadly cannon in the form of palmolein case has already fired on Keralacadre IAS officer P J Thomas and is now ominously trained at UDF's prospective Chief Minister candidate Oommen Chandy.
P J Thomas was shown the door recently by the Supreme Court from the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner as he was an accused in the palmolein case. Thomas, who was a former Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in Kerala, is the eighth accused in the case.
Now it seems to be the turn of Oommen Chandy who is the 23rd witness in the case. With the new twist in the twodecadesold case coinciding with the upcoming Assembly elections, the LDF hopes to take maximum advantage out of it. Hence, the LDF cadres need to be thankful to Achuthanandan for digging out the scam.
The LDF has already gained political advantage over the UDF from the Idamalayar corruption case in which Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai was sentenced to oneyear imprisonment. The Idamalayar case was also fought by Achuthanandan. The fresh developments in the ice cream parlour case involving IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty was also a setback to the UDF.
Achuthanandan, while being the Opposition Leader, had raised the allegation of corruption in the import of palmolein by the then Congress government led by K Karunakaran during early 1990s. Around 15,000 tonnes of palmolein were imported from Singaporebased Power and Energy Corporation to Kerala. The LDF Government which came to power afterwards ordered a Vigilance investigation into it.
The Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau had filed chargesheet in the case in 2001 against eight persons, including Karunakaran, the then Food and Civil Supplies Minister T H Musthafa and P J Thomas. The case, however, remained caught in a legal tangle for nearly a decade after Karunakaran approached the Supreme Court and stayed the proceedings. With the death of Karunakaran, the stay got vacated and the case is once again in the limelight.
Though the actual target of Achuthanandan was Karunakaran, the latter did not face any major backlash in his career owing to the palmolein case, it has caused damage to unintended figures such as Oommen Chandy and Thomas.
The New Indian Express
15 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: While digging out the alleged corruption in the palmolein import deal, comrade V S Achuthanandan would have never ever dreamt that the case would create this much repercussions in Kerala politics.
Though K Karunakaran was the target of Achuthanandan while he took up the issue two decades ago, the deadly cannon in the form of palmolein case has already fired on Keralacadre IAS officer P J Thomas and is now ominously trained at UDF's prospective Chief Minister candidate Oommen Chandy.
P J Thomas was shown the door recently by the Supreme Court from the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner as he was an accused in the palmolein case. Thomas, who was a former Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in Kerala, is the eighth accused in the case.
Now it seems to be the turn of Oommen Chandy who is the 23rd witness in the case. With the new twist in the twodecadesold case coinciding with the upcoming Assembly elections, the LDF hopes to take maximum advantage out of it. Hence, the LDF cadres need to be thankful to Achuthanandan for digging out the scam.
The LDF has already gained political advantage over the UDF from the Idamalayar corruption case in which Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai was sentenced to oneyear imprisonment. The Idamalayar case was also fought by Achuthanandan. The fresh developments in the ice cream parlour case involving IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty was also a setback to the UDF.
Achuthanandan, while being the Opposition Leader, had raised the allegation of corruption in the import of palmolein by the then Congress government led by K Karunakaran during early 1990s. Around 15,000 tonnes of palmolein were imported from Singaporebased Power and Energy Corporation to Kerala. The LDF Government which came to power afterwards ordered a Vigilance investigation into it.
The Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau had filed chargesheet in the case in 2001 against eight persons, including Karunakaran, the then Food and Civil Supplies Minister T H Musthafa and P J Thomas. The case, however, remained caught in a legal tangle for nearly a decade after Karunakaran approached the Supreme Court and stayed the proceedings. With the death of Karunakaran, the stay got vacated and the case is once again in the limelight.
Though the actual target of Achuthanandan was Karunakaran, the latter did not face any major backlash in his career owing to the palmolein case, it has caused damage to unintended figures such as Oommen Chandy and Thomas.
Monday 14 March 2011
State told to conduct security audit of websites
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
14 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Concerned over the increasing attacks on Kerala’s cyber space, even from the Pak Cyber Army (PCA), the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has directed the State Government to conduct a security audit of websites of government departments and organisations.
The Computer Emergency Response Team-Kerala (CERT-K) has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the security audit of government websites by engaging audit agencies and take corrective measures in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
The State IT Department has also directed CERT-K to conduct awareness programmes for all heads of government departments.
“There are more than 250 websites of various departments and organisations under the State Government, and most of these sites are vulnerable to hacking owing to weak security features. Over the past couple of years more that 100 websites of the State Government departments and organisations were hacked. The source of many of these cyber attacks was traced to Pakistan, especially the Pak Cyber Army,” said CERT-K director Mahesh I C.
Pak Cyber Army is a group of Pakistani hackers who caught attention by hacking more than 200 Indian websites, including that of the Central Bureau of Investigation, in December 2010, and posting pro-Pakistan and anti-Indian contents.
During the 2011 New Year eve, the cyber experts in the country were on a high alert following a threat from PCA to hack various Indian websites, including those of Kerala Government.
Union IT Secretary S K Sharma has directed the State Government to conduct a security audit of all the websites of the government departments and organisations.
The IT Ministry also directed that all the government websites should be hosted only on servers of government agencies such as the National Informatics Centre to ensure security.
“We have informed all the department heads about the Central alert and the need to initiate corrective measures,” said IT Secretary K Suresh Kumar.
CERT-K, which was formed on the lines of CERT-In an year ago, has already corrected defacement of over 100 government websites including that of NORKA-Roots, Arogyakeralam, Directorate of Technical Education and Cochin Port Trust.
The Government is also looking into the scope of granting legal powers to CERT-Kerala so that they could even probe into the overseas links of the hackers, said Suresh Kumar.
According to Mahesh, the most frequent type of cyber attack on state government websites was SQL injection where the administrative username and password of a website is hacked and malicious contents posted on the site.
“Weak security features are found to be the major factor that facilitates hacking. CERT-K is giving proper directions and training to the government officials on cyber security,” Mahesh said.
CERT-K is also developing a Defacement Tracking Software that would function as a watchdog against hacking of government websites round the clock, Mahesh said.
The New Indian Express
14 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Concerned over the increasing attacks on Kerala’s cyber space, even from the Pak Cyber Army (PCA), the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has directed the State Government to conduct a security audit of websites of government departments and organisations.
The Computer Emergency Response Team-Kerala (CERT-K) has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the security audit of government websites by engaging audit agencies and take corrective measures in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
The State IT Department has also directed CERT-K to conduct awareness programmes for all heads of government departments.
“There are more than 250 websites of various departments and organisations under the State Government, and most of these sites are vulnerable to hacking owing to weak security features. Over the past couple of years more that 100 websites of the State Government departments and organisations were hacked. The source of many of these cyber attacks was traced to Pakistan, especially the Pak Cyber Army,” said CERT-K director Mahesh I C.
Pak Cyber Army is a group of Pakistani hackers who caught attention by hacking more than 200 Indian websites, including that of the Central Bureau of Investigation, in December 2010, and posting pro-Pakistan and anti-Indian contents.
During the 2011 New Year eve, the cyber experts in the country were on a high alert following a threat from PCA to hack various Indian websites, including those of Kerala Government.
Union IT Secretary S K Sharma has directed the State Government to conduct a security audit of all the websites of the government departments and organisations.
The IT Ministry also directed that all the government websites should be hosted only on servers of government agencies such as the National Informatics Centre to ensure security.
“We have informed all the department heads about the Central alert and the need to initiate corrective measures,” said IT Secretary K Suresh Kumar.
CERT-K, which was formed on the lines of CERT-In an year ago, has already corrected defacement of over 100 government websites including that of NORKA-Roots, Arogyakeralam, Directorate of Technical Education and Cochin Port Trust.
The Government is also looking into the scope of granting legal powers to CERT-Kerala so that they could even probe into the overseas links of the hackers, said Suresh Kumar.
According to Mahesh, the most frequent type of cyber attack on state government websites was SQL injection where the administrative username and password of a website is hacked and malicious contents posted on the site.
“Weak security features are found to be the major factor that facilitates hacking. CERT-K is giving proper directions and training to the government officials on cyber security,” Mahesh said.
CERT-K is also developing a Defacement Tracking Software that would function as a watchdog against hacking of government websites round the clock, Mahesh said.
Saturday 5 March 2011
End of the road for PJ Thomas
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
05 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court verdict quashing PJ Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) will not only take away the much-coveted post from him, but may also see an end to his civil service career.
Thomas, who attained the retirement age of 60 in January this year, was appointed CVC in September last. Hence he got nearly four years of extension in service. The term of the CVC is for four years from the date of appointment or until 65, whichever is earlier.
Meanwhile, sources point out that as per the Central Vigilance Commission Act even if there is a directive of the Supreme Court, the President is the only competent authority to remove a person from the post of CVC. But since the SC has quashed the very appointment of P J Thomas as the CVC, there is no question of expelling him from the post, it is pointed out.
Ineligible for any Government job
The Act also says that a person who had held the post of CVC will be ineligible for any further appointment, including that of any diplomatic assignment or employment to any office of profit under the State or Central Governments.
PJ Thomas, an IAS officer of 1973 batch, had held various sensitive posts in the state as well as in the Centre. Prior to his appointment as the CVC, P J Thomas was serving as the Telecom Secretary at the Centre. He had served as the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education) and Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala.
The New Indian Express
05 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court verdict quashing PJ Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) will not only take away the much-coveted post from him, but may also see an end to his civil service career.
Thomas, who attained the retirement age of 60 in January this year, was appointed CVC in September last. Hence he got nearly four years of extension in service. The term of the CVC is for four years from the date of appointment or until 65, whichever is earlier.
Meanwhile, sources point out that as per the Central Vigilance Commission Act even if there is a directive of the Supreme Court, the President is the only competent authority to remove a person from the post of CVC. But since the SC has quashed the very appointment of P J Thomas as the CVC, there is no question of expelling him from the post, it is pointed out.
Ineligible for any Government job
The Act also says that a person who had held the post of CVC will be ineligible for any further appointment, including that of any diplomatic assignment or employment to any office of profit under the State or Central Governments.
PJ Thomas, an IAS officer of 1973 batch, had held various sensitive posts in the state as well as in the Centre. Prior to his appointment as the CVC, P J Thomas was serving as the Telecom Secretary at the Centre. He had served as the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education) and Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala.
Friday 4 March 2011
Thomas faces criminal conspiracy charges
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
04 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: P J Thomas, who was shown the door by the Supreme Court from the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner, is facing criminal conspiracy charges in the palmolein case. Thomas, a former Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in Kerala, was arraigned as the eighth accused in the case.
He was even summoned to the Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in Thiruvananthapuram in April, 2003. He appeared before the court and took bail. Hence a person on bail in a corruption case was holding the highest post of the Vigilance machinery of the nation.
It was ‘Express’ which first reported that the stand of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P.Chidambaram that Thomas had been given a clean chit in the palmolein case was baseless. ‘Express’ reported on September 9, 2010 that the CVC was still an accused in the corruption case. Had the Supreme Court not intervened, a precedence would have been set for tainted officials to stake claim to the much coveted post.
The palmolein scam pertains to the import of 15,000 tonnes of palmolein from the Singapore-based Power and Energy Corporation to Kerala under the ‘rupee clearance scheme’ at the time of the K Karunakaran-led Congress Ministry during 1991-95. The investigation had found that the state exchequer suffered a loss of `2.3 crore in the deal. Thomas was then Kerala’s Food and Civil Supplies Secretary.
The irregularities were first brought to light in 1993 by the then Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan. A subsequent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India also pointed out corruption in the palmolein import.
A probe conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) concluded that there were irregularities in the Palmolein deal.
P J Thomas had been arraigned as the eighth and last accused in the case. K Karunakaran, the then Civil Supplies Minister T H Musthafa, former Chief Secretary S Padmakumar, former Additional Chief Secretary Zacharia Mathew, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation former managing director Jiji Thomson, former Director of the Malaysian firm V Sadasivan and his personal assistant S. Sivaramakrishnan are the other accused in the case.
The VACB had filed charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Thomas and Jiji Thomson. But since the Centre did not grant prosecution sanction, the charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act were later withdrawn and the two IAS officers were charged under Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, for which the nod of the Centre was not required.
An action-taken-report prepared by the Congress Government in Kerala in January 1995 in response to the CAG’s report also stated that though the Singapore-based firm had sent a letter to the then Chief Minister K Karunakaran in November 1991, offering to import palmolein under the rupee clearance scheme, the letter was neither put up to the Chief Minister nor seen by him before Thomas sent a proposal to the Centre for the import of 15,000 metric tonnes of palmolein. The name of the Singapore-based firm was also specified in the letter.
The ATR also mentions that the proposal forwarded by Thomas was accepted by the Centre and it formed the basis for the entire palmolein import deal.
Moreover, Thomas had made the proposal to the Centre much before the State Cabinet accorded sanction for the proposal. While Thomas sent the letter to the Centre on November 18, 1991, the State Cabinet granted its nod only on November 27, 1991.
The New Indian Express
04 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: P J Thomas, who was shown the door by the Supreme Court from the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner, is facing criminal conspiracy charges in the palmolein case. Thomas, a former Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in Kerala, was arraigned as the eighth accused in the case.
He was even summoned to the Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in Thiruvananthapuram in April, 2003. He appeared before the court and took bail. Hence a person on bail in a corruption case was holding the highest post of the Vigilance machinery of the nation.
It was ‘Express’ which first reported that the stand of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P.Chidambaram that Thomas had been given a clean chit in the palmolein case was baseless. ‘Express’ reported on September 9, 2010 that the CVC was still an accused in the corruption case. Had the Supreme Court not intervened, a precedence would have been set for tainted officials to stake claim to the much coveted post.
The palmolein scam pertains to the import of 15,000 tonnes of palmolein from the Singapore-based Power and Energy Corporation to Kerala under the ‘rupee clearance scheme’ at the time of the K Karunakaran-led Congress Ministry during 1991-95. The investigation had found that the state exchequer suffered a loss of `2.3 crore in the deal. Thomas was then Kerala’s Food and Civil Supplies Secretary.
The irregularities were first brought to light in 1993 by the then Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan. A subsequent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India also pointed out corruption in the palmolein import.
A probe conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) concluded that there were irregularities in the Palmolein deal.
P J Thomas had been arraigned as the eighth and last accused in the case. K Karunakaran, the then Civil Supplies Minister T H Musthafa, former Chief Secretary S Padmakumar, former Additional Chief Secretary Zacharia Mathew, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation former managing director Jiji Thomson, former Director of the Malaysian firm V Sadasivan and his personal assistant S. Sivaramakrishnan are the other accused in the case.
The VACB had filed charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Thomas and Jiji Thomson. But since the Centre did not grant prosecution sanction, the charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act were later withdrawn and the two IAS officers were charged under Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, for which the nod of the Centre was not required.
An action-taken-report prepared by the Congress Government in Kerala in January 1995 in response to the CAG’s report also stated that though the Singapore-based firm had sent a letter to the then Chief Minister K Karunakaran in November 1991, offering to import palmolein under the rupee clearance scheme, the letter was neither put up to the Chief Minister nor seen by him before Thomas sent a proposal to the Centre for the import of 15,000 metric tonnes of palmolein. The name of the Singapore-based firm was also specified in the letter.
The ATR also mentions that the proposal forwarded by Thomas was accepted by the Centre and it formed the basis for the entire palmolein import deal.
Moreover, Thomas had made the proposal to the Centre much before the State Cabinet accorded sanction for the proposal. While Thomas sent the letter to the Centre on November 18, 1991, the State Cabinet granted its nod only on November 27, 1991.
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Malayalis caught in the widening West Asian gyre
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
02 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The insurgency looming large over the West Asian countries is casting a shadow over the overseas job prospects of Indians. Since Keralites constitute a major chunk of the NRI population, the impact on Kerala will be worse in case of an exodus from more Gulf countries.
The Centre has imposed a temporary ban on emigration to Libya. With the internal crisis spreading to Bahrain and Oman, chances of the Centre imposing restrictions on emigrations to these countries could not be ruled out. Owing to the unrest in Bahrain, issuing of visas by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in Bahrain is also learnt to have been affected.
An exodus of Keralites from these countries will badly affect the state’s economy as deposits from Non- Resident Keralites constitute about 25 pc of the total deposits received by the banks in the state. The total NRE deposit in Kerala last year was Rs 36,886 crore.
‘’Recently, we received a direction from the Centre not to issue emigration clearance to Libya,’’ said P K Sasikumar, Assistant Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvananthapuram.
‘’So far, there are no directions regarding restrictions on emigration clearance to other countries.
But we are advising the applicants for emigration clearance to Oman and Bahrain on the present situation in those countries,’’ he said.
Recruitment sector sources said if the insurgency spreads to more countries, the outcome would be disastrous for countries like India.
The state had witnessed a mass exodus following the recent global recession and the Gulf war of the 1990s. As a result, many Malayalis were rendered jobless.
According to rough estimates, over 20 lakh Malayalis are working in West Asian countries. The Malayali population in Oman comes to around four lakh. Bahrain has over one lakh Malayalis.
“The situation in Bahrain is not alarming. In Oman, it seems that the agitation is turning aggressive,” said Recruiting Agents Association of Kerala president B Vivek.
The New Indian Express
02 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The insurgency looming large over the West Asian countries is casting a shadow over the overseas job prospects of Indians. Since Keralites constitute a major chunk of the NRI population, the impact on Kerala will be worse in case of an exodus from more Gulf countries.
The Centre has imposed a temporary ban on emigration to Libya. With the internal crisis spreading to Bahrain and Oman, chances of the Centre imposing restrictions on emigrations to these countries could not be ruled out. Owing to the unrest in Bahrain, issuing of visas by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in Bahrain is also learnt to have been affected.
An exodus of Keralites from these countries will badly affect the state’s economy as deposits from Non- Resident Keralites constitute about 25 pc of the total deposits received by the banks in the state. The total NRE deposit in Kerala last year was Rs 36,886 crore.
‘’Recently, we received a direction from the Centre not to issue emigration clearance to Libya,’’ said P K Sasikumar, Assistant Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvananthapuram.
‘’So far, there are no directions regarding restrictions on emigration clearance to other countries.
But we are advising the applicants for emigration clearance to Oman and Bahrain on the present situation in those countries,’’ he said.
Recruitment sector sources said if the insurgency spreads to more countries, the outcome would be disastrous for countries like India.
The state had witnessed a mass exodus following the recent global recession and the Gulf war of the 1990s. As a result, many Malayalis were rendered jobless.
According to rough estimates, over 20 lakh Malayalis are working in West Asian countries. The Malayali population in Oman comes to around four lakh. Bahrain has over one lakh Malayalis.
“The situation in Bahrain is not alarming. In Oman, it seems that the agitation is turning aggressive,” said Recruiting Agents Association of Kerala president B Vivek.
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Government chooses Keltron; ignores Akshaya
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
01 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a jolt to the Akshaya entrepreneurs, the State Government has decided to handover the enrolment to the Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron.
The Government had earlier announced that Akshaya would be entrusted with the task of enrolling general public and Keltron would be enrolling government officials to the UID, popularly known as Aadhaar.
However, according to an order issued by the State Government the other day, UID enrolment is being launched in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts on a pilot basis and the enrolment in Thiruvananthapuram will be done by Keltron and that in Alappuzha by Akshaya.
The Akshya entrepreneurs across the state are up in arms against the government decision.
"We have already taken up the matter with the Chief Minister and other top officials," said T S Chandran, president of All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association.
The enrolment agency will get Rs 38 as enrolment charges for enrolling each person to the UID. It was when the Akshaya entrepreneurs were expecting to earn considerable revenue from the UID project, they received the jolt.
Many Akshaya entrepreneurs in the district had even undergone training by the UID Authority in enrolling individuals. Steps for procuring necessary hardware like biometric readers were also progressing.
It is alleged that the enrolment in Thiruvananthapuram was given to Keltron owing to the vested interests of ceratin officials. Earlier, there were allegations that Keltron was playing the role of middleman in various government projects and thereby gaining undue profit.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Akshya centres are spread across the district and hence it will be able to reach out to the masses without much effort, whereas Keltron do not have such a strong network.
However, Keltron managing director Prasanna Kumar said that Keltron would be able to carry out the enrolment without much difficulties.
"Keltron have been successfully carrying out the election identity card project. Hence, we will be able to do the UID enrolment directly. We have already initiated steps in this regard and the enrolment will begin soon," he said.
Akshaya centres in Alappuzha have already begun the enrolment and are getting a good response from the people, T S Chandran said.
The enrolment to the UID was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan the other day.
The Unique Identification Project has been caught up in controversies in Kerala while many other states had already gone far ahead in enrolling citizens.
The New Indian Express
01 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a jolt to the Akshaya entrepreneurs, the State Government has decided to handover the enrolment to the Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron.
The Government had earlier announced that Akshaya would be entrusted with the task of enrolling general public and Keltron would be enrolling government officials to the UID, popularly known as Aadhaar.
However, according to an order issued by the State Government the other day, UID enrolment is being launched in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts on a pilot basis and the enrolment in Thiruvananthapuram will be done by Keltron and that in Alappuzha by Akshaya.
The Akshya entrepreneurs across the state are up in arms against the government decision.
"We have already taken up the matter with the Chief Minister and other top officials," said T S Chandran, president of All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association.
The enrolment agency will get Rs 38 as enrolment charges for enrolling each person to the UID. It was when the Akshaya entrepreneurs were expecting to earn considerable revenue from the UID project, they received the jolt.
Many Akshaya entrepreneurs in the district had even undergone training by the UID Authority in enrolling individuals. Steps for procuring necessary hardware like biometric readers were also progressing.
It is alleged that the enrolment in Thiruvananthapuram was given to Keltron owing to the vested interests of ceratin officials. Earlier, there were allegations that Keltron was playing the role of middleman in various government projects and thereby gaining undue profit.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Akshya centres are spread across the district and hence it will be able to reach out to the masses without much effort, whereas Keltron do not have such a strong network.
However, Keltron managing director Prasanna Kumar said that Keltron would be able to carry out the enrolment without much difficulties.
"Keltron have been successfully carrying out the election identity card project. Hence, we will be able to do the UID enrolment directly. We have already initiated steps in this regard and the enrolment will begin soon," he said.
Akshaya centres in Alappuzha have already begun the enrolment and are getting a good response from the people, T S Chandran said.
The enrolment to the UID was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan the other day.
The Unique Identification Project has been caught up in controversies in Kerala while many other states had already gone far ahead in enrolling citizens.
Saturday 26 February 2011
Airport inauguration: It’s a race against time
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
26 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With just three days remaining from the new international terminal of the Thiruvananthapruam Airport to become operational, making arrangements for cargo handling on time proves a challenging task for the agencies concerned.
Even when the Airports Authority of India (AAI) claims that the terminal is ready for operations, several hurdles are there for the authorities to clear. Completing the construction of the temporary export facility near the new terminal building and getting Customs notification for the facility are the major challenges that are to be cleared in the next 72 hours.
If the export facility is not in place, the only option will be to go for a temporary embargo on export and import.
"We are really concerned whether the temporary export facility will be ready by March 1 as the work is progressing at a slow pace," said Agricultural Products and Processed Foods Exporters Association secretary Dil Koshy.
The public sector Steel Industrials Kerala Limited is carrying out the construction works.
The Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE), which runs the Air Cargo Complex, is, however, hopeful that the structure would be completed by March 1. "The temporary export facility being built at 4,000 square metres provided by AAI on lease will be ready by March 1. It will have X-ray and weighing facilities and there will be office room for Customs officials," said KSIE deputy general manager (Cargo) Abdul Rehman.
Obtaining Customs notification for the temporary export facility from the Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise is another hurdle. Airport Director G Chandramouli said that the KSIE was working on getting the Customs notification. KSIE officials said that they had already applied for the notification and it was expected to be obtained in two day’s time.
With Saturday and Sunday being holidays for Customs and Central Excise, further process for getting the notification could be expedited only on Monday, sources point out.
There are certain concerns regarding the movement of imported cargo as the Customs officials insist that the cargo that was unloaded from an aircraft should be taken to the existing cargo complex in closed trucks through the perimetre road of the airport.
However, Air India Thiruvananthapuram station manager Sivanath said that Air India, which was the ground handling agency ofr many airlines, would transport the imported cargo to the cargo complex.
A team of officials of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is expected to inspect the facilities in the airport on Saturday.
Another issue before the authorities pertains to loading problems. A section of the people, who were evicted for acquiring land for constructing the new terminal, had also staked claim for cargo loading activities. However, already there are loading workers at the cargo complex. Hence, the matter is pending before the Labour officer.
Being a prestigious project, all the agencies concerned are expected to take an all-out effort to ensure that the new terminal is thrown open to the public on March 1 evening, as scheduled.
The New Indian Express
26 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With just three days remaining from the new international terminal of the Thiruvananthapruam Airport to become operational, making arrangements for cargo handling on time proves a challenging task for the agencies concerned.
Even when the Airports Authority of India (AAI) claims that the terminal is ready for operations, several hurdles are there for the authorities to clear. Completing the construction of the temporary export facility near the new terminal building and getting Customs notification for the facility are the major challenges that are to be cleared in the next 72 hours.
If the export facility is not in place, the only option will be to go for a temporary embargo on export and import.
"We are really concerned whether the temporary export facility will be ready by March 1 as the work is progressing at a slow pace," said Agricultural Products and Processed Foods Exporters Association secretary Dil Koshy.
The public sector Steel Industrials Kerala Limited is carrying out the construction works.
The Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE), which runs the Air Cargo Complex, is, however, hopeful that the structure would be completed by March 1. "The temporary export facility being built at 4,000 square metres provided by AAI on lease will be ready by March 1. It will have X-ray and weighing facilities and there will be office room for Customs officials," said KSIE deputy general manager (Cargo) Abdul Rehman.
Obtaining Customs notification for the temporary export facility from the Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise is another hurdle. Airport Director G Chandramouli said that the KSIE was working on getting the Customs notification. KSIE officials said that they had already applied for the notification and it was expected to be obtained in two day’s time.
With Saturday and Sunday being holidays for Customs and Central Excise, further process for getting the notification could be expedited only on Monday, sources point out.
There are certain concerns regarding the movement of imported cargo as the Customs officials insist that the cargo that was unloaded from an aircraft should be taken to the existing cargo complex in closed trucks through the perimetre road of the airport.
However, Air India Thiruvananthapuram station manager Sivanath said that Air India, which was the ground handling agency ofr many airlines, would transport the imported cargo to the cargo complex.
A team of officials of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is expected to inspect the facilities in the airport on Saturday.
Another issue before the authorities pertains to loading problems. A section of the people, who were evicted for acquiring land for constructing the new terminal, had also staked claim for cargo loading activities. However, already there are loading workers at the cargo complex. Hence, the matter is pending before the Labour officer.
Being a prestigious project, all the agencies concerned are expected to take an all-out effort to ensure that the new terminal is thrown open to the public on March 1 evening, as scheduled.
Wednesday 23 February 2011
Enrolment to Aadhaar begins
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
23 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Better late than never. After months of dilly-dallying, enrolment to the nation’s much-hyped Unique Identification (UID) project, popularly known as Aadhaar, will begin in Kerala on Thursday.
The launch of Aadhaar has been held up in the state over the past several months owing to certain issues, including the use of proprietary software for the project and concerns raised by various sections over the privacy of the personal data of individuals.
Many states, including the Communist-ruled Tripura and West Bengal, had already launched the enrolment to the project that aims at collecting personal and biometric details of all citizens and providing unique identification number to each individual.
Owing to mounting pressure from a section that is opposed to Aadhaar for ‘ethical and ideological’ reasons, the Kerala Government was forced to stall the launch of the project even in the last minute. Finally, on Tuesday, the Government gave the go-ahead after the political leadership waved the green flag.
"We had received various memorandums raising concerns about the Aadhaar project and hence we had to rethink before giving the go ahead," sources at the Chief Minister’s Office said.
The 2,000-odd Akshaya centres will be enrolling the citizens to the project. "We are all set to start the enrolment process on February 24. More than 200 Akshaya entrepreneurs had already undergone training from the UID Authority. We target to enrol at least 1.5 crore people in another 10 months," said Akshaya Director Korath V Mathew.
The initial roadblock for Aadhaar’s launch in Kerala was that the software used for the enrolment was proprietary software and it was against the free and open sources software policy of the state. The UID Authority had sorted out the issue by providing FOSS-based applications.
In the meantime, concerns about the privacy of Aadhaar had come up.
"Our major concern is with regard to the privacy of the information, including biometric details, of individuals that are being gathered. It is not limited to the state, but the concern has gathered momentum at the national level," said Free Software Foundation secretary Arun Madhavan.
There are also concerns about enrolment of students through the IT@School as a section feel that the information regarding students were being collected without their permission. However, IT Department sources said that there would be no compulsion on anyone to enrol in Aadhaar.
The Akshaya centres are expected to fetch a considerable revenue from the UID project as the UID Authority would be paying around Rs 35 for enrolling each person. The UID Authority had already allotted Rs 15 crore to the state.
The State Bank of Travancore is also planning to launch enrolment to Aadhaar in the state.
The New Indian Express
23 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Better late than never. After months of dilly-dallying, enrolment to the nation’s much-hyped Unique Identification (UID) project, popularly known as Aadhaar, will begin in Kerala on Thursday.
The launch of Aadhaar has been held up in the state over the past several months owing to certain issues, including the use of proprietary software for the project and concerns raised by various sections over the privacy of the personal data of individuals.
Many states, including the Communist-ruled Tripura and West Bengal, had already launched the enrolment to the project that aims at collecting personal and biometric details of all citizens and providing unique identification number to each individual.
Owing to mounting pressure from a section that is opposed to Aadhaar for ‘ethical and ideological’ reasons, the Kerala Government was forced to stall the launch of the project even in the last minute. Finally, on Tuesday, the Government gave the go-ahead after the political leadership waved the green flag.
"We had received various memorandums raising concerns about the Aadhaar project and hence we had to rethink before giving the go ahead," sources at the Chief Minister’s Office said.
The 2,000-odd Akshaya centres will be enrolling the citizens to the project. "We are all set to start the enrolment process on February 24. More than 200 Akshaya entrepreneurs had already undergone training from the UID Authority. We target to enrol at least 1.5 crore people in another 10 months," said Akshaya Director Korath V Mathew.
The initial roadblock for Aadhaar’s launch in Kerala was that the software used for the enrolment was proprietary software and it was against the free and open sources software policy of the state. The UID Authority had sorted out the issue by providing FOSS-based applications.
In the meantime, concerns about the privacy of Aadhaar had come up.
"Our major concern is with regard to the privacy of the information, including biometric details, of individuals that are being gathered. It is not limited to the state, but the concern has gathered momentum at the national level," said Free Software Foundation secretary Arun Madhavan.
There are also concerns about enrolment of students through the IT@School as a section feel that the information regarding students were being collected without their permission. However, IT Department sources said that there would be no compulsion on anyone to enrol in Aadhaar.
The Akshaya centres are expected to fetch a considerable revenue from the UID project as the UID Authority would be paying around Rs 35 for enrolling each person. The UID Authority had already allotted Rs 15 crore to the state.
The State Bank of Travancore is also planning to launch enrolment to Aadhaar in the state.
Monday 21 February 2011
Despite fall in number of mishaps, death rises
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
21 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite a decline in the number of accidents, the number of deaths in road accidents has shown an increase during the year 2010.
According to the figures available with the Police Department, while the number of accidents in 2010 came down by 387 compared to 2009, the number of deaths had gone up by 91.
A total of 3,922 persons lost their lives in 35,046 accidents in the State during 2010, whereas the corresponding figures for 2009 were 3,831 and 35,433.
‘’During 2010 there were many road accidents with mass causalities and hence the contradictory trend in the number of accidents and number of deaths,’’ IG Traffic S Gopinath said.
Over the past many years, the number of deaths in road accidents had been showing an upward trend. But, in 2009, the number of deaths showed a decline by 70 compared to 2008.
While the number of deaths in 2008 was 3,901 it came down to 3,831 in 2009.
The decline in the number of deaths was indeed a relief to traffic planners.
However, the number of deaths has once again
started showing the upward trend in 2010 thereby proving that the traffic awareness efforts initiated by government agencies and various NGOs are yet to bear fruit.
The Police Department has also pointed out that more than half of the road accident victims are in the age group of 20 to 55 and many are bread- winners of their families.
Hence, the increasing number of deaths in road accidents is becoming a social issue as well.
It is a matter of relief that the number of accidents as well as the number of injured have been showing a declining trend over these years.
According to the police, the major reasons for the increase in death rate are wrong, careless and rash driving habits, bad driving habits of heavy vehicle
drivers and bad condition of roads.
The increasing number of accident deaths is also attributed to the enormous increase in the number of vehicles.
However, compared to the increasing number of vehicles, the decline in the number of accidents is a positive sign, police sources said.
The New Indian Express
21 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite a decline in the number of accidents, the number of deaths in road accidents has shown an increase during the year 2010.
According to the figures available with the Police Department, while the number of accidents in 2010 came down by 387 compared to 2009, the number of deaths had gone up by 91.
A total of 3,922 persons lost their lives in 35,046 accidents in the State during 2010, whereas the corresponding figures for 2009 were 3,831 and 35,433.
‘’During 2010 there were many road accidents with mass causalities and hence the contradictory trend in the number of accidents and number of deaths,’’ IG Traffic S Gopinath said.
Over the past many years, the number of deaths in road accidents had been showing an upward trend. But, in 2009, the number of deaths showed a decline by 70 compared to 2008.
While the number of deaths in 2008 was 3,901 it came down to 3,831 in 2009.
The decline in the number of deaths was indeed a relief to traffic planners.
However, the number of deaths has once again
started showing the upward trend in 2010 thereby proving that the traffic awareness efforts initiated by government agencies and various NGOs are yet to bear fruit.
The Police Department has also pointed out that more than half of the road accident victims are in the age group of 20 to 55 and many are bread- winners of their families.
Hence, the increasing number of deaths in road accidents is becoming a social issue as well.
It is a matter of relief that the number of accidents as well as the number of injured have been showing a declining trend over these years.
According to the police, the major reasons for the increase in death rate are wrong, careless and rash driving habits, bad driving habits of heavy vehicle
drivers and bad condition of roads.
The increasing number of accident deaths is also attributed to the enormous increase in the number of vehicles.
However, compared to the increasing number of vehicles, the decline in the number of accidents is a positive sign, police sources said.
Saturday 19 February 2011
Kerala: Jailed ex-minister escaped grave charges
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
19 Feb 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: As he walks into prison, former minister and Kerala Congress(B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai can heave a sigh of relief as a number of serious charges against him in connection with the Idamalayar case are still remaining on paper.
During the probe into the irregularities in the award of contract for the Idamalayar project, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had also unearthed various other anomalies, including corruption in the supply of cement, excess payment to the private company that constructed the dam and misuse of government vehicles.
In the chargesheet filed at the Idamalayar special court in 1991, the SIT had mentioned that the chargesheet pertaining to these additional charges will be filed in due course. However, in the next two decades those chargesheets haven't been filed for 'mysterious reasons'.
According to Yousuf Kunju, a retired Crime Branch SP who was a member of the SIT, the chargesheet that was filed in 1991 pertained to the irregularities in the award of the contract. During the probe it was also found that cement in large quantities, which was supplied for the project, was not used for the construction. Only 36 percent of the cement supplied was used for construction and the remaining was illegally diverted. It was also found that Rs 1.45 core was paid in excess to the private company which constructed the dam.
Four vehicles provided by the Canadian consultant for the project were also found to be misused. In the chargesheet, it was mentioned that chargesheet for these charges will be filed soon. Similarly, Gopalakrishna Pillai was also not chargesheeted at that time as the permission from the Centre was required, recalls Yousf Kunju.
However, no steps were taken to file those chargesheets thereafter and hence the accused were indeed spared of serious charges.
Sources said that the Justice K Sukumaran Commission, which probed into the Idamalayar scam, had also pointed out these irregularities.
Had these charges been chargesheeted, Balakrishna Pilli and the other accused would have faced severe conviction, the source said.
The New Indian Express
19 Feb 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: As he walks into prison, former minister and Kerala Congress(B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai can heave a sigh of relief as a number of serious charges against him in connection with the Idamalayar case are still remaining on paper.
During the probe into the irregularities in the award of contract for the Idamalayar project, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had also unearthed various other anomalies, including corruption in the supply of cement, excess payment to the private company that constructed the dam and misuse of government vehicles.
In the chargesheet filed at the Idamalayar special court in 1991, the SIT had mentioned that the chargesheet pertaining to these additional charges will be filed in due course. However, in the next two decades those chargesheets haven't been filed for 'mysterious reasons'.
According to Yousuf Kunju, a retired Crime Branch SP who was a member of the SIT, the chargesheet that was filed in 1991 pertained to the irregularities in the award of the contract. During the probe it was also found that cement in large quantities, which was supplied for the project, was not used for the construction. Only 36 percent of the cement supplied was used for construction and the remaining was illegally diverted. It was also found that Rs 1.45 core was paid in excess to the private company which constructed the dam.
Four vehicles provided by the Canadian consultant for the project were also found to be misused. In the chargesheet, it was mentioned that chargesheet for these charges will be filed soon. Similarly, Gopalakrishna Pillai was also not chargesheeted at that time as the permission from the Centre was required, recalls Yousf Kunju.
However, no steps were taken to file those chargesheets thereafter and hence the accused were indeed spared of serious charges.
Sources said that the Justice K Sukumaran Commission, which probed into the Idamalayar scam, had also pointed out these irregularities.
Had these charges been chargesheeted, Balakrishna Pilli and the other accused would have faced severe conviction, the source said.
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Kerala to take up allegations against judges with CJI
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
16 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government will be seeking a high-level probe by the apex court into the allegations that two former judges of the Kerala High Court had accepted bribe to derail the investigation into the infamous ice cream parlour scandal involving former Minister and Indian Union
Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K.Kunhalikutty.
The state government will be writing a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) seeking appropriate action, preferably a high level
judicial probe, into the allegations that justices K.Narayana Kurup and K.Thankappan had accepted a bribe of about Rs. 40 lakh to derail a
CBI probe into the ice cream parlour case.
Former Additional Director-General of Prosecutions K C Peter, in a recent sting operation by a television channel, had revealed that the two judges, Justice K Narayana Kurup and Justice K Thankappan, accepted bribe from Kunhalikutty’s co-brother K A Rauf for dismissing a plea for a CBI probe into the ice cream parlour case in 2007 after a lower court acquitted all the accused in the case.
Peter had later disowned the report and both the judges denied having accepted bribe.
‘’The allegations against the two judges are very serious in nature as it has cast a shadow over the entire judicial system of the country and hence, we are taking up the matter with the CJI,’’ Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told ‘Express’.
‘’Once we gather sufficient evidence with regard to the allegations, we will write to the CJI,’’ Kodiyeri said.
A special investigation team led by Additional DGP (Crimes) Vinson M Paul had already started a probe into the fresh revelations in the case.
‘’Media reports alone could not be considered as evidence. Hence, once the SIT gathers sufficient evidence, the government will be writing to the CJI along with the evidence seeking a probe into the matter,’’ Kodiyeri said.
The SIT had already interrogated Rauf and Kunhalikutty in connection with the fresh revelations in the case. Rauf had earlier said that he would hand over all the evidence to the police regarding the attempts made to derail the investigation, including that of bribing the judges.
Meanwhile, Kodiyeri said that the allegations of amassing of wealth by the close relatives of former CJI K G Balakrishnan, as well as the revelations by Congress leader K Sudhakaran MP, that he had witnessed a judge accepting bribe, would not be brought to the notice of the apex court at this point of time as the state government had already initiated separate investigations into the issues.
The New Indian Express
16 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government will be seeking a high-level probe by the apex court into the allegations that two former judges of the Kerala High Court had accepted bribe to derail the investigation into the infamous ice cream parlour scandal involving former Minister and Indian Union
Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K.Kunhalikutty.
The state government will be writing a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) seeking appropriate action, preferably a high level
judicial probe, into the allegations that justices K.Narayana Kurup and K.Thankappan had accepted a bribe of about Rs. 40 lakh to derail a
CBI probe into the ice cream parlour case.
Former Additional Director-General of Prosecutions K C Peter, in a recent sting operation by a television channel, had revealed that the two judges, Justice K Narayana Kurup and Justice K Thankappan, accepted bribe from Kunhalikutty’s co-brother K A Rauf for dismissing a plea for a CBI probe into the ice cream parlour case in 2007 after a lower court acquitted all the accused in the case.
Peter had later disowned the report and both the judges denied having accepted bribe.
‘’The allegations against the two judges are very serious in nature as it has cast a shadow over the entire judicial system of the country and hence, we are taking up the matter with the CJI,’’ Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told ‘Express’.
‘’Once we gather sufficient evidence with regard to the allegations, we will write to the CJI,’’ Kodiyeri said.
A special investigation team led by Additional DGP (Crimes) Vinson M Paul had already started a probe into the fresh revelations in the case.
‘’Media reports alone could not be considered as evidence. Hence, once the SIT gathers sufficient evidence, the government will be writing to the CJI along with the evidence seeking a probe into the matter,’’ Kodiyeri said.
The SIT had already interrogated Rauf and Kunhalikutty in connection with the fresh revelations in the case. Rauf had earlier said that he would hand over all the evidence to the police regarding the attempts made to derail the investigation, including that of bribing the judges.
Meanwhile, Kodiyeri said that the allegations of amassing of wealth by the close relatives of former CJI K G Balakrishnan, as well as the revelations by Congress leader K Sudhakaran MP, that he had witnessed a judge accepting bribe, would not be brought to the notice of the apex court at this point of time as the state government had already initiated separate investigations into the issues.
Saturday 12 February 2011
Technical snag at Tvm airport ATC raises concern
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
12 Feb 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Technical snags are not new to the ATC at Thiruvananthapuram airport.
In December, when Congress president Sonia Gandhi came to the state capital to pay homage to former Chief Minister K Karunakaran, her flight had to be delayed for 17 minutes on account of a technical snag at the ATC.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) headquarters had even sought an explanation from the ATC on the matter, highly placed sources in the AAI told Express.
According to sources, over the last few years, officials with the Thiruvananthapuram ATC had given repeated requests to the higher-ups pointing out the need to replace the existing system that has become outdated.
However, there has been no response yet even after the ATCs in other parts of the country were supplied with modern equipment.
Director-General of Civil Aviation E K Bharathbhusan said he would look into the matter immediately.
“So far, the issue has not come to my attention.
ATC is a very important area in aviation, and we often ensure that modern systems are in place at the ATCs,” he told Express over phone.
In June last, a Jet Airways flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Chennai had narrowly missed a collision with an Air India Chennai-Madurai flight by around 10 nautical miles after the two aircraft had fallen on a grey area of the radar.
A timely instruction from the ATC helped avert a major mid-air collision.
The repetition of such incidents has not prompted the authorities in updating the systems in the Thiruvananthapuram ATC, that covers 200 nautical miles.
The existing systems in the Thiruvananthapuram ATC were installed way back in 1994.
Most of the equipment here have become outdated and are beyond repair.
Though a new air traffic control tower has been planned for the Thiruvananthapuram airport, it is still remaining on paper.
Besides hese, the Thiruvananthapuram ATC is also suffering from manpower shortage, sources say.
The New Indian Express
12 Feb 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Technical snags are not new to the ATC at Thiruvananthapuram airport.
In December, when Congress president Sonia Gandhi came to the state capital to pay homage to former Chief Minister K Karunakaran, her flight had to be delayed for 17 minutes on account of a technical snag at the ATC.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) headquarters had even sought an explanation from the ATC on the matter, highly placed sources in the AAI told Express.
According to sources, over the last few years, officials with the Thiruvananthapuram ATC had given repeated requests to the higher-ups pointing out the need to replace the existing system that has become outdated.
However, there has been no response yet even after the ATCs in other parts of the country were supplied with modern equipment.
Director-General of Civil Aviation E K Bharathbhusan said he would look into the matter immediately.
“So far, the issue has not come to my attention.
ATC is a very important area in aviation, and we often ensure that modern systems are in place at the ATCs,” he told Express over phone.
In June last, a Jet Airways flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Chennai had narrowly missed a collision with an Air India Chennai-Madurai flight by around 10 nautical miles after the two aircraft had fallen on a grey area of the radar.
A timely instruction from the ATC helped avert a major mid-air collision.
The repetition of such incidents has not prompted the authorities in updating the systems in the Thiruvananthapuram ATC, that covers 200 nautical miles.
The existing systems in the Thiruvananthapuram ATC were installed way back in 1994.
Most of the equipment here have become outdated and are beyond repair.
Though a new air traffic control tower has been planned for the Thiruvananthapuram airport, it is still remaining on paper.
Besides hese, the Thiruvananthapuram ATC is also suffering from manpower shortage, sources say.
Sunday 6 February 2011
Victims’ kin yet to get compensation
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
06-Feb-11
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Although the shock over the Pulmedu tragedy is gradually fading, the solatium announced by the state government seems to be eluding the dependents of the 102 victims of the tragedy thanks to red tape.
It was on January 14 that a stampede occurred at Pulmedu near Kumily in Iduk
The New Indian Express
06-Feb-11
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Although the shock over the Pulmedu tragedy is gradually fading, the solatium announced by the state government seems to be eluding the dependents of the 102 victims of the tragedy thanks to red tape.
It was on January 14 that a stampede occurred at Pulmedu near Kumily in Iduk
Tuesday 1 February 2011
No legal hurdles to launch fresh probe: Experts
Arjun Raghunath
01 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the fresh revelations about the role of IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty in the ice cream parlour case, there are no legal hindrances for the government to go in for a fresh probe against the former Minister. It is even possible to reopen the case, even though all the accused in the case have been acquitted by the court, say legal experts.
As per the law, a person who is either sentenced or acquitted in a case should not be subject to prosecution again. However, since the name of Kunhalikutty had not figured either in the First Information Report or the chargesheet of the ice cream parlour case, this legal protection is not applicable for him, according to legal experts.
“In the wake of the fresh revelations regarding the involvement of Kunhalitutty in the case, the police could suo motu register a case against him. Besides the sexual harassment charges, there is also scope for framing charges of influencing witness in a case as well as forgery, “ leading lawyer Cherunniyoor Sasidharan Nair said. The Kozhikode police have already registered a case against Kunhalikutty and Rauf for influencing the witnesses.
Congress MLA and lawyer George Mercier said that though there would be practical difficulties in reopening the ice cream parlour case, the government could order a probe against Kunhalikutty under Section 201 of IPC.
A senior IPS officer as well as a senior judicial officer with the State Government also shared the same opinion. Though Kunhalikutty’s name figured during the investigation into the case, he was not implicated in the case owing to the lack of evidence, especially after the change in the statement of Rejina who was one of the key witness in the case.
It is also pointed out that there are legal provisions to reopen the case by considering it as a rarest of rare ones. However, it may involve a tedious and time-consuming legal battle to reopen the case, the legal experts said.
“After obtaining sufficient evidence about the manipulations which had taken place in the case, the government could approach the Supreme Court seeking reopening of the case. However, there are chances of all those who have been acquitted in the case objecting to this and hence it will be a long and tedious legal battle. Hence, a better option before the government will be to initiate a fresh probe,” said Sasidharan Nair.
01 Feb 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the fresh revelations about the role of IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty in the ice cream parlour case, there are no legal hindrances for the government to go in for a fresh probe against the former Minister. It is even possible to reopen the case, even though all the accused in the case have been acquitted by the court, say legal experts.
As per the law, a person who is either sentenced or acquitted in a case should not be subject to prosecution again. However, since the name of Kunhalikutty had not figured either in the First Information Report or the chargesheet of the ice cream parlour case, this legal protection is not applicable for him, according to legal experts.
“In the wake of the fresh revelations regarding the involvement of Kunhalitutty in the case, the police could suo motu register a case against him. Besides the sexual harassment charges, there is also scope for framing charges of influencing witness in a case as well as forgery, “ leading lawyer Cherunniyoor Sasidharan Nair said. The Kozhikode police have already registered a case against Kunhalikutty and Rauf for influencing the witnesses.
Congress MLA and lawyer George Mercier said that though there would be practical difficulties in reopening the ice cream parlour case, the government could order a probe against Kunhalikutty under Section 201 of IPC.
A senior IPS officer as well as a senior judicial officer with the State Government also shared the same opinion. Though Kunhalikutty’s name figured during the investigation into the case, he was not implicated in the case owing to the lack of evidence, especially after the change in the statement of Rejina who was one of the key witness in the case.
It is also pointed out that there are legal provisions to reopen the case by considering it as a rarest of rare ones. However, it may involve a tedious and time-consuming legal battle to reopen the case, the legal experts said.
“After obtaining sufficient evidence about the manipulations which had taken place in the case, the government could approach the Supreme Court seeking reopening of the case. However, there are chances of all those who have been acquitted in the case objecting to this and hence it will be a long and tedious legal battle. Hence, a better option before the government will be to initiate a fresh probe,” said Sasidharan Nair.
Govt may allow freehold rights within SEZ limits
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
30 Jan 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The much-delayed Smart City Kochi project is finally seeing a ray of hope as the State Government is learnt to have reached an understanding with the
Dubai-based promoters of the project to allow freehold rights over 12 percent of the land earmarked for the project.
The land, however, will be inside the Special Economic Zone.
The SEZ rules did not allow selling of the land within the SEZ limits at a later stage and by allowing freehold on land within the SEZ limits, the State Government hopes that it will not be possible for TECOM authorities to sell the land at a later stage. The decade-long efforts to set up the Smart City project has been held up over the demand by the Dubai-based TECOM for freehold of over 12 percent of the land earmarked for the project, outside the SEZ limits.
Allegations
The firm demand by TECOM for freehold of land outside the SEZ limits had also led to allegation that TECOM had a hidden agenda to sell off the land.
Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had even openly alleged that Tecom was trying to carry out a real estate business under the cover of the Smart City project.
Role of interlocutor
Sources said that as a result of the deliberation by NRK businessman M A Yusuf Ali with the officials of the Dubai Supreme Fiscal Committee, the TECOM has informally agreed for freehold land within the SEZ.
Red carpet welcome on February 2
A formal decision in this regard is likely to be reached at a meeting scheduled to be held between Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and Supreme Fiscal Committee member of the Dubai Government Ahmad Humaid Al Tayer here on February 2.
The State Government has invited Tayer for the talks and he is being accorded a red-carpet welcome as a State guest.
The background
Around 246 acres of land in Kochi have been earmarked for the Smart City Kochi project.
TECOM has been insisting on freehold on 12 percent of the land, which comes to about 30 acres.
Though the State Government had issued repeated ultimatums to TECOM to proceed with the project, they were still sticking to the demand for freehold over land outside the SEZ limits
The New Indian Express
30 Jan 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The much-delayed Smart City Kochi project is finally seeing a ray of hope as the State Government is learnt to have reached an understanding with the
Dubai-based promoters of the project to allow freehold rights over 12 percent of the land earmarked for the project.
The land, however, will be inside the Special Economic Zone.
The SEZ rules did not allow selling of the land within the SEZ limits at a later stage and by allowing freehold on land within the SEZ limits, the State Government hopes that it will not be possible for TECOM authorities to sell the land at a later stage. The decade-long efforts to set up the Smart City project has been held up over the demand by the Dubai-based TECOM for freehold of over 12 percent of the land earmarked for the project, outside the SEZ limits.
Allegations
The firm demand by TECOM for freehold of land outside the SEZ limits had also led to allegation that TECOM had a hidden agenda to sell off the land.
Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had even openly alleged that Tecom was trying to carry out a real estate business under the cover of the Smart City project.
Role of interlocutor
Sources said that as a result of the deliberation by NRK businessman M A Yusuf Ali with the officials of the Dubai Supreme Fiscal Committee, the TECOM has informally agreed for freehold land within the SEZ.
Red carpet welcome on February 2
A formal decision in this regard is likely to be reached at a meeting scheduled to be held between Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and Supreme Fiscal Committee member of the Dubai Government Ahmad Humaid Al Tayer here on February 2.
The State Government has invited Tayer for the talks and he is being accorded a red-carpet welcome as a State guest.
The background
Around 246 acres of land in Kochi have been earmarked for the Smart City Kochi project.
TECOM has been insisting on freehold on 12 percent of the land, which comes to about 30 acres.
Though the State Government had issued repeated ultimatums to TECOM to proceed with the project, they were still sticking to the demand for freehold over land outside the SEZ limits
Monday 24 January 2011
State's mgovernance fascinates Centre
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
25 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The mobile governance (mgovernance) venture of Kerala seems to have impressed not only the state but the nation as a whole.
Within a month after the formal launch of the muchhyped mgovernance applications, the Centre has expressed keen interest in extending the project to other states as well. Around 40 services related to the Kerala government are at present offered through the mobile phone platform and more services are in the offing.
Sources in the state IT Department told Express that the Union Department of Information Technology (DIT) had sought a proposal from the Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) on implementing the mgovernance project in all the states. The IT Mission had submitted the proposal in this regard and it was discussed at a meeting of DIT officials chaired by Joint Secretary, DIT, Shankar Aggarwal, in New Delhi last week, it is learnt.
According to sources, the tentative plan is to provide an infrastructure for a nationwide mobile governance platform from Kerala.
"The new data centre of the state government coming up at Technopark may become the backbone of the entire system. Also, there will be servers in other locations across the country so as to form a cloud computing model of backup support," the sources said.
The mgovernance project of Kerala, funded by the Centre, was formally launched last month. The Goa government has already launched an mgovernance project in line with the Kerala mgovernance application. With 3G technology gaining popularity, some of the government departments are even exploring the possibility of making use of the new technology to deliver interactive services through smart phones. The State Tourism Department has already launched 3G portal.
The KSITM has initiated the mgovernance of the state with the technical support of Technoparkbased firm MobMe. The mgovernance services being delivered by the state government at present include Kerala Public Service Commission's examination related information, Sabarimala information, bus timings, information regarding bills of various government services and examination results.
The services that are now being delivered through the edistrict project of the state will also be made available through mgovernance shortly
The New Indian Express
25 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The mobile governance (mgovernance) venture of Kerala seems to have impressed not only the state but the nation as a whole.
Within a month after the formal launch of the muchhyped mgovernance applications, the Centre has expressed keen interest in extending the project to other states as well. Around 40 services related to the Kerala government are at present offered through the mobile phone platform and more services are in the offing.
Sources in the state IT Department told Express that the Union Department of Information Technology (DIT) had sought a proposal from the Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) on implementing the mgovernance project in all the states. The IT Mission had submitted the proposal in this regard and it was discussed at a meeting of DIT officials chaired by Joint Secretary, DIT, Shankar Aggarwal, in New Delhi last week, it is learnt.
According to sources, the tentative plan is to provide an infrastructure for a nationwide mobile governance platform from Kerala.
"The new data centre of the state government coming up at Technopark may become the backbone of the entire system. Also, there will be servers in other locations across the country so as to form a cloud computing model of backup support," the sources said.
The mgovernance project of Kerala, funded by the Centre, was formally launched last month. The Goa government has already launched an mgovernance project in line with the Kerala mgovernance application. With 3G technology gaining popularity, some of the government departments are even exploring the possibility of making use of the new technology to deliver interactive services through smart phones. The State Tourism Department has already launched 3G portal.
The KSITM has initiated the mgovernance of the state with the technical support of Technoparkbased firm MobMe. The mgovernance services being delivered by the state government at present include Kerala Public Service Commission's examination related information, Sabarimala information, bus timings, information regarding bills of various government services and examination results.
The services that are now being delivered through the edistrict project of the state will also be made available through mgovernance shortly
Thursday 20 January 2011
Plan for data bank on Gulf returnees suffers setback
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
21-Jan-11
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: THE plans of the State Government to create a data bank on Keralites who returned from the Gulf countries following recession has suffered a setback as only an insignificant number of returnees has so far enrolled themselves in the data bank even after two years of its launch....
The New Indian Express
21-Jan-11
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: THE plans of the State Government to create a data bank on Keralites who returned from the Gulf countries following recession has suffered a setback as only an insignificant number of returnees has so far enrolled themselves in the data bank even after two years of its launch....
Vayalar Ravi in pilot’s seat
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
20 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Kerala Government, which has been in an embarrassing situation for delaying the commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, is now caught up in a further embarrassing position as Vayalar Ravi has clinched the Civil Aviation portfolio at the Centre.
The V S Achuthanandan Government in the State had indeed snubbed the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi recently by objecting to the inauguration of the new terminal building by him. With Vayalar Ravi becoming the Civil Aviation Minister, the LDF Government will now have to seek his support not only for the commissioning of the new terminal, but also for other civil aviation-related needs of the State.
The appointment of Vayalar Ravi also comes close on the heels of the Centre deciding to shift the headquarters of Air India Express to the State.
Vayalar Ravi was scheduled to inaugurate the new terminal building on July 14, 2010. But the State Government had communicated its strong objection to the plan and insisted that the new terminal should be inaugurated by none less than the Prime Minister himself. Since then, the inauguration or even an informal commissioning of the new terminal was being delayed indefinitely and the terminal constructed at a cost of Rs 300 crore had been remaining unutilised.
Sources said that the State Government wanted to highlight the new terminal project as one of its major achievements and wanted to make it a major event. Hence, the Government was waiting indefinitely for the convenience of the Prime Minister. Though there have been reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may commission the new terminal by next month, in the changed scenario, the blessings of Vayalar Ravi are inevitable.
The New Indian Express
20 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Kerala Government, which has been in an embarrassing situation for delaying the commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, is now caught up in a further embarrassing position as Vayalar Ravi has clinched the Civil Aviation portfolio at the Centre.
The V S Achuthanandan Government in the State had indeed snubbed the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi recently by objecting to the inauguration of the new terminal building by him. With Vayalar Ravi becoming the Civil Aviation Minister, the LDF Government will now have to seek his support not only for the commissioning of the new terminal, but also for other civil aviation-related needs of the State.
The appointment of Vayalar Ravi also comes close on the heels of the Centre deciding to shift the headquarters of Air India Express to the State.
Vayalar Ravi was scheduled to inaugurate the new terminal building on July 14, 2010. But the State Government had communicated its strong objection to the plan and insisted that the new terminal should be inaugurated by none less than the Prime Minister himself. Since then, the inauguration or even an informal commissioning of the new terminal was being delayed indefinitely and the terminal constructed at a cost of Rs 300 crore had been remaining unutilised.
Sources said that the State Government wanted to highlight the new terminal project as one of its major achievements and wanted to make it a major event. Hence, the Government was waiting indefinitely for the convenience of the Prime Minister. Though there have been reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may commission the new terminal by next month, in the changed scenario, the blessings of Vayalar Ravi are inevitable.
Tuesday 18 January 2011
CM’s action raises eyebrows
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
19 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: On June 16, 2006, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was caught in a controversy after he happened to share dais with a businessman in the city who was involved in a foreign currency smuggling case.
About four-and-a-half years down the line, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had gone one step ahead by inaugurating the optical shop owned by the same businessman in the city.
J S Prakash, managing director of Rose Opticals, is the controversial businessman who was an accused in two cases of foreign currency smuggling. He was detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) in 2004.
The new showroom of Rose Opticals at Vellayambalam in the city was inaugurated by the Chief Minister on Monday and that too in the presence of Prakash. It is quite unusual for a Chief Minister to open an optical showroom.
The newspaper advertisements given by Rose Opticals also kept mum on the person who was to inaugurate the showroom.
The Chief Minister’s action has indeed raised many an eyebrow. “ Even if the case against Prakash is not existing now, it is never ever expected from a person like Achuthanandan who always speaks of ethics to inaugurate the shop of a person who had a tainted background, “ a senior bureaucrat in the state said.
It may be recalled that a couple of years back Achuthanandan had stayed back from presenting a dothi to actor Jagathy Sreekumar at a function organised by the State Government to inaugurate the khadi-handloom dress code for government employees.
The tainted background of the actor, who was allegedly involved in the infamous Vithura sex racket case, was said to have provoked Achuthanandan to take such an extreme step at a public function. But the same Achuthanandan, who always pays more weightage to ethics, had perfo rmed a volte face by inaugurating a shop owned by another tainted person. It seems that Achuthanandan was kept in the dark about the background of Prakash.
Kodiyeri was caught up in the controversy while he shared dais with Prakash at a function organised by the Thiruvananthapuram City Police to distribute 350 sunglasses sponsored by Rose Opticals for traffic police personnel. As the issue snowballed into a major controversy, Kodiyeri had even sought an explanation from the then DGP Raman Srivastava.
An inquiry was also conducted by the then IG South zone Arun Kumar Sinha into the circumstances under which Prakash happened to share dais with the Home Minister.
The sunglasses distributed to the policemen were even returned to Rose Opticals in order to prevent further embarrassment, sources said.
The New Indian Express
19 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: On June 16, 2006, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was caught in a controversy after he happened to share dais with a businessman in the city who was involved in a foreign currency smuggling case.
About four-and-a-half years down the line, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had gone one step ahead by inaugurating the optical shop owned by the same businessman in the city.
J S Prakash, managing director of Rose Opticals, is the controversial businessman who was an accused in two cases of foreign currency smuggling. He was detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) in 2004.
The new showroom of Rose Opticals at Vellayambalam in the city was inaugurated by the Chief Minister on Monday and that too in the presence of Prakash. It is quite unusual for a Chief Minister to open an optical showroom.
The newspaper advertisements given by Rose Opticals also kept mum on the person who was to inaugurate the showroom.
The Chief Minister’s action has indeed raised many an eyebrow. “ Even if the case against Prakash is not existing now, it is never ever expected from a person like Achuthanandan who always speaks of ethics to inaugurate the shop of a person who had a tainted background, “ a senior bureaucrat in the state said.
It may be recalled that a couple of years back Achuthanandan had stayed back from presenting a dothi to actor Jagathy Sreekumar at a function organised by the State Government to inaugurate the khadi-handloom dress code for government employees.
The tainted background of the actor, who was allegedly involved in the infamous Vithura sex racket case, was said to have provoked Achuthanandan to take such an extreme step at a public function. But the same Achuthanandan, who always pays more weightage to ethics, had perfo rmed a volte face by inaugurating a shop owned by another tainted person. It seems that Achuthanandan was kept in the dark about the background of Prakash.
Kodiyeri was caught up in the controversy while he shared dais with Prakash at a function organised by the Thiruvananthapuram City Police to distribute 350 sunglasses sponsored by Rose Opticals for traffic police personnel. As the issue snowballed into a major controversy, Kodiyeri had even sought an explanation from the then DGP Raman Srivastava.
An inquiry was also conducted by the then IG South zone Arun Kumar Sinha into the circumstances under which Prakash happened to share dais with the Home Minister.
The sunglasses distributed to the policemen were even returned to Rose Opticals in order to prevent further embarrassment, sources said.
Sunday 16 January 2011
Compensation distribution to be a tedious task
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
17 Jan 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the Thekkady boat tragedy, it’s going to be another tiresome task for the Idukki district administration to distribute the solatium announced by the Kerala Government to the dependents of the deceased in the Pulmedu tragedy as a majority of the victims are from other states.
In the Thekkady mishap that occurred in September 30, 2009, except for three, all the other 42 persons who died were from other states.
However, even after a year and three months the solatium to the dependents of about 10 people hailing from other states is yet to be given.
Claims made by more than one person as legal heir of a person as well as failure to produce the required documents to prove it are said to be the reasons for the non-payment of solatium.
“This time also we expect a similar situation as a majority of the victims are from other states,” Idukki District Collector Ashok Kumar Singh told Express.
“Differences exist in legal heirship certificates issued by various states. While it is the Revenue Department that issues the legal heirship certificate in Kerala, the case is not so in some districts. Moreover, there may be cases of more than one person staking claim for the solatium of one victim. In such cases, the court will have to decide who is the legal heir,” Ashok Kumar Singh said. Among the 102 Sabarimala pilgrims killed in the tragedy, 38 were from Tamil Nadu, 33 from Karnataka, 20 from Andhra Pradesh and three from Kerala.
Eight bodies are still to be identified. The state government has announced a solatium of `5 lakh each to the dependents of each deceased person.
The New Indian Express
17 Jan 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the Thekkady boat tragedy, it’s going to be another tiresome task for the Idukki district administration to distribute the solatium announced by the Kerala Government to the dependents of the deceased in the Pulmedu tragedy as a majority of the victims are from other states.
In the Thekkady mishap that occurred in September 30, 2009, except for three, all the other 42 persons who died were from other states.
However, even after a year and three months the solatium to the dependents of about 10 people hailing from other states is yet to be given.
Claims made by more than one person as legal heir of a person as well as failure to produce the required documents to prove it are said to be the reasons for the non-payment of solatium.
“This time also we expect a similar situation as a majority of the victims are from other states,” Idukki District Collector Ashok Kumar Singh told Express.
“Differences exist in legal heirship certificates issued by various states. While it is the Revenue Department that issues the legal heirship certificate in Kerala, the case is not so in some districts. Moreover, there may be cases of more than one person staking claim for the solatium of one victim. In such cases, the court will have to decide who is the legal heir,” Ashok Kumar Singh said. Among the 102 Sabarimala pilgrims killed in the tragedy, 38 were from Tamil Nadu, 33 from Karnataka, 20 from Andhra Pradesh and three from Kerala.
Eight bodies are still to be identified. The state government has announced a solatium of `5 lakh each to the dependents of each deceased person.
Police offer help, security to senior citizens
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
17 Jan 2011
Senior citizens can feel secure in the capital city hereafter as the city police are launching a scheme to ensure their security and welfare round the clock. It is in line with the Kerala Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules 2009 that the Thiruvananthapuram city police are offering a helping hand to senior citizens. City Police Commissioner M R Ajithkumar said that the groundwork for the new scheme was almost complete and it would be formally launched soon.
“The main aim of the project is to extend assistance to senior citizens who are staying alone. There are many such homes in the city. Moreover, there are also instances of children neglecting their aged parents. We hope to address such issues by introducing the Senior Citizen Security Scheme,” said the Police Commissioner.
As part of implementing the project, the city police have already collected the details of almost all the senior citizens in the city and created a data bank. A Community Service Centre (CSC) will be opened at the City Police Commissioner Office soon. An officer in the rank of sub-inspector will appointed as the Central Nodal Officer at the CSC. The CSC, which will function round the clock, will monitor the functioning of a Senior Citizen Security Scheme, as well as other community service schemes of the city police like community policing and women and children helpline.
A police officer in the rank of additional/assistant sub-inspector will be appointed in each police station as Community Relation Officer (CRO). Each CRO will be responsible for the security and welfare of the senior citizens under his police station limits. The CRO will have to be in touch with all the senior citizens in the locality frequently and enquire about their woes, if any, and take necessary measures to address them.
The city police will also launch a website soon. There will be facility for senior citizens to enroll themselves with the data bank of senior citizens being maintained by the city police. There will be a centralised data base of all senior citizens at the City Police Commissioner Office. Similarly, all CROs will have to maintain a data base of senior citizens under their police station limits.
The senior citizens can also take up their grievances or complaints with the police.
The Central Nodal Officer at the CSC will be monitoring the follow-up actions taken by the police on the complaints.
arjun_raghunath@expressbuzz.com
The New Indian Express
17 Jan 2011
Senior citizens can feel secure in the capital city hereafter as the city police are launching a scheme to ensure their security and welfare round the clock. It is in line with the Kerala Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules 2009 that the Thiruvananthapuram city police are offering a helping hand to senior citizens. City Police Commissioner M R Ajithkumar said that the groundwork for the new scheme was almost complete and it would be formally launched soon.
“The main aim of the project is to extend assistance to senior citizens who are staying alone. There are many such homes in the city. Moreover, there are also instances of children neglecting their aged parents. We hope to address such issues by introducing the Senior Citizen Security Scheme,” said the Police Commissioner.
As part of implementing the project, the city police have already collected the details of almost all the senior citizens in the city and created a data bank. A Community Service Centre (CSC) will be opened at the City Police Commissioner Office soon. An officer in the rank of sub-inspector will appointed as the Central Nodal Officer at the CSC. The CSC, which will function round the clock, will monitor the functioning of a Senior Citizen Security Scheme, as well as other community service schemes of the city police like community policing and women and children helpline.
A police officer in the rank of additional/assistant sub-inspector will be appointed in each police station as Community Relation Officer (CRO). Each CRO will be responsible for the security and welfare of the senior citizens under his police station limits. The CRO will have to be in touch with all the senior citizens in the locality frequently and enquire about their woes, if any, and take necessary measures to address them.
The city police will also launch a website soon. There will be facility for senior citizens to enroll themselves with the data bank of senior citizens being maintained by the city police. There will be a centralised data base of all senior citizens at the City Police Commissioner Office. Similarly, all CROs will have to maintain a data base of senior citizens under their police station limits.
The senior citizens can also take up their grievances or complaints with the police.
The Central Nodal Officer at the CSC will be monitoring the follow-up actions taken by the police on the complaints.
arjun_raghunath@expressbuzz.com
Saturday 8 January 2011
Lapses in intelligence gathering, DGP issues fresh directives
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
07 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Despite repeated directives from the higherups, there had been serious lapses on the part of the local police in gathering intelligence inputs from the grassrootslevel, DGP Jacob Punnoose said. Concerned over this, the DGP has issued a fresh directive asking the City Police Commissioners (CPs) and District SPs (DSPs) to take immediate measures to ensure effective intelligence gathering from the police stationlevel.
The DGP has also prescribed a new set of procedures to the cops for strengthening the intelligence gathering machinery. The DGP's directive came amidst the frequent criticism against the police for lapses in intelligence gathering. "In spite of repeated directives, sufficient efforts are not being taken to collect intelligence at police stationlevel. Important information that may come to the notice of police functionaries at grassrootslevel is often ignored," the DGP said in a circular issued to the cops.
As per the existing directives, every station house officers (SHOs) will have to send weekly reports to the the CPs or DSPs concerned as well as the District Special Branch on the intelligence information gathered during routine enquiries, patrolling and beat duties. Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) has also been directed to ensure that the weekly reports are promptly submitted by the police stations.
New set of guidelines
Prescribing a new set of guidelines, the DGP has directed the CPs and DSPs to depute a subinspector or additional subinspector at each police station to prepare weekly reports on matters of intelligence value and submit to district special branch on all Thursdays.
The District Special Branch DySPs should consolidate the report and submit it to the CPs, DSPs, Range IGs, Zonal ADGP and IG (Intelligence). The CPs and DSPs should conduct weekly review meetings with Special Branch officials to ensure that the intelligence gathering machinery is functioning properly. Range IGs have been directed to hold quarterly review meetings of Special Branch officials and ADGP (Intelligence) and IG (Intelligence) shouldconduct regular inspections to ensure that the instructions are complied with. The DGP has also directed the CPs and DSPs to convene a meeting of SHOs and explain the need for streghtening the intelligence gathering mechanism.
The New Indian Express
07 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Despite repeated directives from the higherups, there had been serious lapses on the part of the local police in gathering intelligence inputs from the grassrootslevel, DGP Jacob Punnoose said. Concerned over this, the DGP has issued a fresh directive asking the City Police Commissioners (CPs) and District SPs (DSPs) to take immediate measures to ensure effective intelligence gathering from the police stationlevel.
The DGP has also prescribed a new set of procedures to the cops for strengthening the intelligence gathering machinery. The DGP's directive came amidst the frequent criticism against the police for lapses in intelligence gathering. "In spite of repeated directives, sufficient efforts are not being taken to collect intelligence at police stationlevel. Important information that may come to the notice of police functionaries at grassrootslevel is often ignored," the DGP said in a circular issued to the cops.
As per the existing directives, every station house officers (SHOs) will have to send weekly reports to the the CPs or DSPs concerned as well as the District Special Branch on the intelligence information gathered during routine enquiries, patrolling and beat duties. Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) has also been directed to ensure that the weekly reports are promptly submitted by the police stations.
New set of guidelines
Prescribing a new set of guidelines, the DGP has directed the CPs and DSPs to depute a subinspector or additional subinspector at each police station to prepare weekly reports on matters of intelligence value and submit to district special branch on all Thursdays.
The District Special Branch DySPs should consolidate the report and submit it to the CPs, DSPs, Range IGs, Zonal ADGP and IG (Intelligence). The CPs and DSPs should conduct weekly review meetings with Special Branch officials to ensure that the intelligence gathering machinery is functioning properly. Range IGs have been directed to hold quarterly review meetings of Special Branch officials and ADGP (Intelligence) and IG (Intelligence) shouldconduct regular inspections to ensure that the instructions are complied with. The DGP has also directed the CPs and DSPs to convene a meeting of SHOs and explain the need for streghtening the intelligence gathering mechanism.
Wednesday 5 January 2011
Tainted officials back in office
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
Dec. 31
Raising many an eyebrow, two officials of the Regional Passport Office in Thiruvananthapuram who were arrested the other day for their involvement in seven separate case of fake passport rackets, are back in office.
Shamji B.Singh and Ajith Kumar, two assistants at the Passport office, who are accused in separate cases of issuing about 100 fake passports are still continuing in office, even after the police informed the Passport Officer about the involvement of the two in the case. The two were arrested by the Kollam Special Branch last week. They are now on conditional bail.
Police sources said that the two officials, who are arraigned as sixth and seventh accused in the cases, had prima faice played a key role in the racket and hence their continuing in the office may even lead to destruction of evidences. The two are now on conditional bail and they are directed by the court to appear before the investigationfficer on all Wednesdays, Kollam Special Branch DySP Chandrasekharan said.
When contacted by Express, Passport Officer B.S.R.Nair said that the involvement of the two officials have been reported to the higher ups. The two had reported for duty on Monday. There is no provision to stop them from working until there is any direction form the higher-ups or they are charge sheeted. The two officials were earlier working in the counters. But now they are not deployed at the counter, he said.
Shamji and Ajith had earlier approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case. But the High Court refused to grant bail and directed the two to surrender before the police. Subsequently, the two surrendered before the Kollam Special Branch police last week. The police had produced them at the local court and the court granted conditional bail to the two.
Police sources said that Shamji and Ajith were found to have played a key role in the racket. They had extended all favours to the key accused in the racket, Abdul Rasheed who operated a travel agency near the Regional Passport Office, in issuing passports in bogus names. So far we had collected evidence that about 100 fake passports were arranged by the racket.
Kollam Special Branch sub-inspector Al Jabbar said that besides the Passport office staff and travel agents, several Postal Department officials and advocates are also involved in the racket. Three Notaries based in Thiruvananthapuram, identified as P.Radhakrishnan, S.Kumari and Padmakumari, are suspected to have involvement in the racket. The three are learnt to have approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
Ends
The New Indian Express
Dec. 31
Raising many an eyebrow, two officials of the Regional Passport Office in Thiruvananthapuram who were arrested the other day for their involvement in seven separate case of fake passport rackets, are back in office.
Shamji B.Singh and Ajith Kumar, two assistants at the Passport office, who are accused in separate cases of issuing about 100 fake passports are still continuing in office, even after the police informed the Passport Officer about the involvement of the two in the case. The two were arrested by the Kollam Special Branch last week. They are now on conditional bail.
Police sources said that the two officials, who are arraigned as sixth and seventh accused in the cases, had prima faice played a key role in the racket and hence their continuing in the office may even lead to destruction of evidences. The two are now on conditional bail and they are directed by the court to appear before the investigationfficer on all Wednesdays, Kollam Special Branch DySP Chandrasekharan said.
When contacted by Express, Passport Officer B.S.R.Nair said that the involvement of the two officials have been reported to the higher ups. The two had reported for duty on Monday. There is no provision to stop them from working until there is any direction form the higher-ups or they are charge sheeted. The two officials were earlier working in the counters. But now they are not deployed at the counter, he said.
Shamji and Ajith had earlier approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case. But the High Court refused to grant bail and directed the two to surrender before the police. Subsequently, the two surrendered before the Kollam Special Branch police last week. The police had produced them at the local court and the court granted conditional bail to the two.
Police sources said that Shamji and Ajith were found to have played a key role in the racket. They had extended all favours to the key accused in the racket, Abdul Rasheed who operated a travel agency near the Regional Passport Office, in issuing passports in bogus names. So far we had collected evidence that about 100 fake passports were arranged by the racket.
Kollam Special Branch sub-inspector Al Jabbar said that besides the Passport office staff and travel agents, several Postal Department officials and advocates are also involved in the racket. Three Notaries based in Thiruvananthapuram, identified as P.Radhakrishnan, S.Kumari and Padmakumari, are suspected to have involvement in the racket. The three are learnt to have approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
Ends
Sunday 2 January 2011
Govt in dilemma over filling DGP vacancy
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
03 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: With Vigilance Director K P Somarajan, who is of DGP rank, retiring from service next month, the LDF Government will be in a dilemma in filling the vacancy of DGP which will arise.
Though Aravind Ranjan, S Pulikeshi and Netto Desmond are the frontrunners to the post, sources said that Netto Desmond, who is now serving in the Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau (VACB), stands the best chance of being promoted.
While Aravind Ranjan, who is the seniormost ADGP, is on Central deputation, the CBI chargesheet in the Civil Supplies scam will hinder ADGP Training S Pulikesi's chances. Pulikeshi is next to Aravind Ranjan in seniority. Police Department sources said that the chances for Aravind Ranjan returning to the state at this point of time is remote.
But what might save the day for Pulikeshi is the precedent set by the appointment of IAS officer P J Thomas, an accused in palmolein case, to the highly sensitive post of Chief Vigilance Commissioner, say sources close to Pulikeshi.
There are four posts of DGP in the state which are at present occupied by Jacob Punnose and K.G Premshanker, besides Siby Mathews and Somarajan.
Meanwhile, the Government is also likely to consider Siby Mathews to the post of Vigilance Director once Somarajan steps down.
A shuffle in the police is also in the offing as IG Thiruvananthapuram range A Hemachandran and IG Thrissur range Mohmmed Yasin are being promoted to the rank of Additional DGP. It is learnt that the Government is seriously considering the name of Hemachandran to the post of ADGPIntelligence. Siby Mathews, who was recently promoted to the rank of DGP and posted as Fire and Rescue Services CommandantGeneral, is still holding the charge of ADGPIntelligence. But he had requested the Government to relieve him from the charge of ADGP Intelligence.
Besides Hemachandran and Yasin, three other officers of the 1986 batch N Shanker Reddy, N C Asthana and Rajesh Dewan are also likely to be promoted to ADGP rank. While Shanker Reddy is serving as Kerala State Beverages Corporation managing director, Asthana and Rajesh Dewan are on deputation. The Screening Committee which met here the other day is learnt to have cleared the promotions and the next Cabinet may ratify it. IPS officers of the 1993 batch, including Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director Yogesh Gupta, DIG Administration S.Gopinath and Kerala Police Academy Director Jose George, are also likely to be promoted from the rank of DIG to IG soon.
The New Indian Express
03 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: With Vigilance Director K P Somarajan, who is of DGP rank, retiring from service next month, the LDF Government will be in a dilemma in filling the vacancy of DGP which will arise.
Though Aravind Ranjan, S Pulikeshi and Netto Desmond are the frontrunners to the post, sources said that Netto Desmond, who is now serving in the Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau (VACB), stands the best chance of being promoted.
While Aravind Ranjan, who is the seniormost ADGP, is on Central deputation, the CBI chargesheet in the Civil Supplies scam will hinder ADGP Training S Pulikesi's chances. Pulikeshi is next to Aravind Ranjan in seniority. Police Department sources said that the chances for Aravind Ranjan returning to the state at this point of time is remote.
But what might save the day for Pulikeshi is the precedent set by the appointment of IAS officer P J Thomas, an accused in palmolein case, to the highly sensitive post of Chief Vigilance Commissioner, say sources close to Pulikeshi.
There are four posts of DGP in the state which are at present occupied by Jacob Punnose and K.G Premshanker, besides Siby Mathews and Somarajan.
Meanwhile, the Government is also likely to consider Siby Mathews to the post of Vigilance Director once Somarajan steps down.
A shuffle in the police is also in the offing as IG Thiruvananthapuram range A Hemachandran and IG Thrissur range Mohmmed Yasin are being promoted to the rank of Additional DGP. It is learnt that the Government is seriously considering the name of Hemachandran to the post of ADGPIntelligence. Siby Mathews, who was recently promoted to the rank of DGP and posted as Fire and Rescue Services CommandantGeneral, is still holding the charge of ADGPIntelligence. But he had requested the Government to relieve him from the charge of ADGP Intelligence.
Besides Hemachandran and Yasin, three other officers of the 1986 batch N Shanker Reddy, N C Asthana and Rajesh Dewan are also likely to be promoted to ADGP rank. While Shanker Reddy is serving as Kerala State Beverages Corporation managing director, Asthana and Rajesh Dewan are on deputation. The Screening Committee which met here the other day is learnt to have cleared the promotions and the next Cabinet may ratify it. IPS officers of the 1993 batch, including Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director Yogesh Gupta, DIG Administration S.Gopinath and Kerala Police Academy Director Jose George, are also likely to be promoted from the rank of DIG to IG soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
