KL This Week: Governor Continues on Collision Course, Threatens Ministers of Action

The Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammed Khan, continued to clash with the elected government on multiple issues. Most recently, he warned ministers of removal if they “lower the dignity” of the office of the governor. Constitutional experts have termed his comments as “inconsequential.” 

-The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government will soon enact a law against superstitions, it informed the high court, even as the enquiry on the recent double human sacrifice continues. 

-The anti-Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VSIL) took out a march to the government secretariat on October 17, seeking the abolition of construction works. 

-Absconding Congress MLA, Eldhose Kunnapilly obtained anticipatory bail on October 20 and was instructed to appear before the investigating officer on October 22. The two-time legislator was missing for more than 10 days after a sexual assault complaint was lodged. 

- Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the outcomes of the two- week long European visit of a high-level delegation. The visit, he said, had resulted in investments and employment for residents of Kerala here and abroad. Newsclick brings a round-up of the happenings this week.

'WILL WITHDRAW PLEASURE'

Governor Khan threatened the ministers of action, including 'withdrawing pleasure' if they degrade the office of the Governor. Experts have rubbished the threat, stating that the Governor can appoint or remove ministers only on the advice of the chief minister. References were made to a previous Supreme Court judgements on such contradictions.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the LDF have condemned the Governor’s statement and have announced programmes to appraise the people about the controversy.

The Governor notified the removal of senate members of the University of Kerala on October 20, after the university refused to nominate a member to the search- cum-select committee to identify a new Vice Chancellor. The Kerala High Court has instructed the Governor not to appoint new members to the Senate. 

The Governor has sought a list of senior faculty members of different universities, reportedly to appoint them in vacancies of VC’s, considering the ongoing tussle. 

ANTI-SUPERSTITION LAW SOON

The LDF government informed the High Court of its decision to enact a law against superstitious practices. The recommendation to enact the Kerala Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery, and Black Magic Bill is still pending with the government.

The minister for higher education and social justice, R Bindu, blamed “reactionary forces” of attempting to bring back old and superstitious beliefs. “It should be seen with utmost caution that women are the victims of such atrocities due to blind faith”, she tweeted. 

She also pointed out that the incident was an outcome of globalisation that is forcing people to look for quick ways to attain prosperity. 

ROAD BLOCKADE BY PROTESTORS

Roads leading to Thiruvananthapuram were blocked for several hours by protestors from Vizhinjam in eight different locations. The roads were blocked for more than six hours and a rally toward the secretariat was taken out later. 

MLA OBTAINS ANTICIPATORY BAIL

Congress legislator Eldhose Kunnapilly got anticipatory bail in a sexual assault case. A murder attempt case and a case for revealing the victim’s name in the assault incident has also been filed against him. 

The court observed that the victim was highly qualified and was well aware of the provisions of the law. The legislator, after an explanation was sought by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), has claimed innocence. He also appeared before the investigation officer as per orders of the court.

CM’s EUROPE TRIP

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with the cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats visited several European countries for two weeks, starting October 3. The government said it had entered into agreements with Norway, United Kingdom and Finland on flood mitigation, school and higher education and maritime projects.

With the UK requiring more than 42,000 staff in the health sector in the next three years, the agreements arrived at will favour the medical professionals from Kerala, the government said, adding that Wales will also recruit nurses directly from the state, without intervention of any private player. Read More

REBELLION IN IUML

The rebellion in the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has resulted in the formation of Hyder Ali Thangal Foundation.

Several leaders of the IUML have been raising voices against former minister and general secretary P K Kunhalikutty, alleging financial irregularities in ‘Chandrika’, the party’ organ.