Opposition walk-out over appointment of relatives in PSUs

Thiruvananthapuram: United Democratic Front staged a walk out in the Assembly on Monday demanding discussion on Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan’s role in controversial appointments of relatives of CPI (M) leaders to posts in public sector undertakings.

The UDF objected to the Speaker not permitting moving of an adjournment motion given notice of by V. D Satheesan (Congress) on the subject.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded that appointments made by all departments should be enquired into. There were documents showing that the Additional Chief Secretary Paul Antony had noted that the files relating to the appointments should be seen by the Chief Minister.

The Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan had permitted the notice for the motion to be taken up in preference to one on drop in rubber prices given notice of by Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani.  Mr. Sreeramakrishnan rejected Minister A. K. Balan’s contention that the motion actually spoke of doubts about Chief Minister’s role whereas adjournment motions are not permitted over doubtful matters.

The Chief Minister said that file relating to appointment of relative of E. P.  Jayarajan, who resigned as Industries Minister, as Managing Director of KSIE had not come before him and he had not known about the appointment. As per Rules of Business, it was not mandatory to refer such appointments to Chief Minister.  He was not commenting on the merits of the particular case as it was under consideration of the Vigilance Court and the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau. The appointment was made subject to Vigilance clearance. By convention, such appointments should be referred to the Chief Minister.

Mr. Vijayan recalled that when allegations of nepotism arose over the appointment, he had said that the issue would be discussed and a collective decision would be taken. When the issue was taken up at the party secretariat Mr. Jayarajan proposed to resign and the secretariat agreed to that.

The resignation was tendered to uphold principles. This was something that the UDF could not even think of. When allegations were raised against UDF ministers, the UDF first said that there was no proof. When the proof came, it said that the courts would decide. When the courts decided, they said that the people’s verdict was above that. When the people’s verdict went against it, it said that one’s own consciousness was above all.

Mr. Vijayan said that LDF insisted on general criteria for appointments and no exceptions would be made. Vigilance clearance had been made mandatory for such appointments to key posts in PSUs and steps were being taken to bring legislation to ensure transparency in such appointments.

The Opposition Leader said that there was no morality behind the resignation. Mr. Jayarajan had been caught red-handed and he had to resign. When he proposed appointments disregarding rules, the Additional Chief Secretary had noted in the file that it should be referred to Chief Minister through the Industries Minister.  He was tabling copies of letters written by Mr. Jayaran seeking appointments of his relatives and notes of the Additional Chief Secretary on the matter.

Referring to the demand that the appointments during UDF rule should also be probed, Mr. Chennithala said that all appointments during the last ten years should be looked into. However, the Vigilance Director himself was now facing enquiries. He was yet to prove his credentials.

The Opposition Leader said that according to rules of business, all appointments of Managing Directors of PSUS were to be submitted to the Chief Minister and placed before Cabinet before orders are issued. “Didn’t they come before the Cabinet?”

Mr. Chennithala recalled that the CPI (M) State secretary had said that the Mr. Jayarajan had admitted to his mistake. However, Mr. Jayarajan’s statement in the House was different. “Whom should we believe?”

He said that that the Vigilance police should have filed an FIR against Mr. Jayarajan as there was a clear case against him.

Mr. Satheesan said that vigilance clearance was mandatory in appointments to key posts in public sector undertakings. However, the Chief Minister was now saying that clearance would be mandatory in future.

He said that many relatives and persons close to ministers had been appointed to PSUs and universities.  Appointment of government pleaders had also been done in a similar manner. All the norms specified for appointment of Managing Director of PSUs were ignored and short list prepared by RIAB was bypassed.

Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani said that 17 persons had been appointed from outside the shortlist prepared by RIAB. Mr. Jayaraj had even vetoed the Chief Minister in the matter.

Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty said that none of his relatives had been appointed to key posts in public sector units when he was the Industries Minster.  None had got in because they were more interested in business and jobs abroad.

Mr. Jayarajan had erred in writing letters seeking appointment of his relatives. An oral instruction would have sufficed. Moreover, he even wrote in the file that the matter need not be put up to the Chief Minister.