Kerala ministers' personal staff: SC to hear the matter in detail

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday decided to schedule a detailed hearing into the petition seeking to bring in criteria for the appointment of the personal staff of the chief minister, ministers, chief whip and opposition leader in Kerala. The decision was taken by a bench comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi. 

The petition was filed by an organisation namely Anti-Corruption People’s Movement (ACPM). As per reports, the petitioner argued that the special rule granting a pension to personal staffers was unconstitutional and pointed out that appointments were made without adhering to any criteria. 

However, the apex court asked whether ministers in other states were appointing personal staff in a similar manner. Justice Trivedi pointed out that they are given only honorariums in Gujarat. Following this, the advocates informed the court that the staff in Kerala are granted benefits including pension. 

Earlier, a division bench of the Kerala High Court headed by Justice S Manikumar had dismissed a similar plea seeking transparency in the appointment of the personal staff of ministers. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had also slammed the recruitment method of the personal staff of ministers in Kerala.