The Kerala High Court has turned down the State Government’s request for making available the services of a sitting judge for a judicial probe into the infamous solar scam in which Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is allegedly involved. The Government had on August 13 announced a judicial probe by a sitting judge into the scandal.
A meeting on August 26 of the administrative committee of the High Court headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and comprising four other senior judges decided not to spare the services of a sitting judge for the probe and informed the State Chief Secretary of the decision. The Opposition said the callous approach of the Government was the reason for the court’s decision.
The Government will now have to search for a sitting judge in other states or approach the High Court again with the request for getting the services of a district judge if it decides to hold fast to the decision of engaging a sitting judge for the probe. Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the Government was firm on getting the services of a sitting judge.