Justice Devan Ramachandran minced no words in reprimanding the Chief Secretary for celebrating while the others were suffering. He was referring to the Chief Secretary’s non-compliance with the Court’s instruction to appear online on Monday, November 6. Earlier, HC had suo motu impleaded the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in this respect.
Chief Secretary V. Venu submitted before the Court, in an online appearance on November 8, that the government struggles to meet even the daily routine expenses; that is the gravity of the crisis in the State. But, HC ordered that the Chief Secretary and Transport Secretary should appear online if the pension for the retired KSRTC employees are not paid before November 30. This is a heavy blow to the Pinarayi Vijayan government.
Court order is serious since petitions for contempt of court have come before it (HC). Chief Secretary stated before the Court that KSRTC pension for September has been disbursed and October pension will be paid before November 30. It was when the Court asked for the reason for the delay that the Chief Secretary told about the acute financial crisis the state undergoes. Chief Secretary submitted that it is not possible to support KSRTC for ever.
In the meantime, Koompanpara native Mariyamma and Polinjapalan native Annamma, two octogenarian women have ventured into ‘protest begging’ in Adimali Town, Idukki district. They have not got the welfare pensions since the last five months, so that they do not have money even for buying their medicines. It is estimated that about 60 lakhs people are in the payroll of social security and welfare pensions at the minimum rate of Rs 1,600 per month.
On November 6, Monday, there were reports that the Court lost its temper as the Chief Secretary and other top bureaucrats failed to appear online in connection with the same petitions. The excuse cited for the failure was that Chief Secretary was the general convener of ‘Keraleeyam 23’ the state government-sponsored extravaganza. It was not acceptable for HC. That is why Court said while the government is celebrated, people do suffer.
According to reports, government spent about Rs 27 crore for the ‘Keraleeyam 23’ event which is reported to be organised in connection with the state’s foundation day (November 1).
Observers view this as part of the general policy of the Pinrayi Vijayan-led CPM Government to ignore and neglect the genuine grievances of the people. Otherwise two senior Civil Service officers would not have evaded the High Court instruction to appear online on November 6. But, the luxuries for the ministers and officials find no leaps and bounds. Volumes of allegations speak this out. People are fed up with the spending spree of the government.
