Thiruvananthapuram: Question Hour in Kerala assembly revealed criminal and illogic waste of taxpayers’ money for personal and party motives.
Rs 61.90 lakhs spent on legal fights against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.
When the Governor did not sign the bill passed by the legislative assembly, the government sought the legal advice of Hali S. Nariman, one of the most expensive lawyers in the country. Here are the details of the payment for the assignment:
Rs 30 lakhs for Hali S. Hariman.
Rs 9.9 lakhs for Subhash Sharma, Nariman’s junior.
Rs 4 lakhs to Safeer Ahmed, another junior
Rs 3 lakhs for the clerk.
Total Rs 46.90 lakhs.
Rs 15 lakhs were spent on legal advice regarding the removal of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan as the Chancellor of the universities in the state and the withdrawal of the Governor’s pleasure of minister continuing in office.
Rs 3.16 crores spent for Re-Kerala Legislative Assembly Bills.
Rs 32 lakhs spent for legal advice regarding Kerala Safeguard Right To Residential Accommodation Bill.
These statistics were disclosed during the question-answer hours in the assembly.
It is revealed that since the Left Democratic Front (LDF) took over in May 2016, it has spent Rs 8,94,90,000 for lawyers brought from out of Kerala to fight 21 cases. It consists of Rs 55 lakhs for the Life Mission case, Rs 2 lakhs for the Sprinklr case and Rs 88 lakhs for the Periya Twin Murder case. Rs 33.54 lakhs was spent on the ‘imported’ lawyers’ travel and accommodation. Rs 24.94 lakhs was spent on airfares and Rs 8.59 lakhs on housing. Rs 1.47 crore spent for six legal advice.
Rs 31.92 lakhs was spent on renovating the swimming pool in Cliff House, the official residence of the Kerala Chief Minister. Rs 31,92,360 was spent from May 2016 to November 14, 2022. Rs 18.06 for the pool, 7.92 lakhs for renovating the roof and plant room, and Rs 6 lakhs for annual maintenance in two instalments. This swimming pool business was carried out when the state struggled to conduct matters of utmost necessity. The government has been avoiding the questions on the House floor regarding the expenses incurred for renovating the swimming pool. The purchase of luxury vehicles for the CM and lakhs of rupees spent on cattle sheds, walls and elevators are talks of the state as the whole controversy. And there are allegations that lakhs of rupees have been spent on luxuries.
BJP has alleged that lakhs of rupees have been spent from the treasury for CM’s trips abroad with family members.
The very same government has been complaining about a shortage of funds for picking up the tab for necessities. The government does not entertain the demands for reasonable projects and spending, thanks to its stand that the state suffers a shortage of funds. And the government makes it a point to blame the union government for every fiscal issue it faces.
Another interesting and significant fact is the government presides over a substantial legal department and an expensive army of “legal luminaries” of CPM’s choice. They consist of a Legal Advisor, Secretary of the Legal Department, Advocate General, Public Prosecutors, Public Pleaders, etc.; legal experts are brought from Delhi and other places. This process costs a fortune and carves the state’s treasury to the bone!
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