AK Balan, KT Jaleel | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of the Lokayuktha report, Minister for Law AK Balan opined that Higher Education Minister KT Jaleel needn’t resign from the post. Balan stated that no law says that one shouldn’t appoint his/her relative on deputation basis. This is the first time, the government is responding on the matter.
In Kerala, there is no tradition of resignation based on a lower court verdict. KT Adeeb, relative of Jaleel, was appointed on deputation in October. We only need to check whether the person was eligible and deserving. No law states that a relative can’t be appointed. If the complaint was that Jaleel’s relative, who didn’t meet necessary qualifications, was appointed on deputation, then it should be challenged in court. Manjalamkuzhi Ali and late KM Mani also had appointed their people on deputation, Balan alleged.
Jaleel had earlier itself apprised the High Court and also the Governor if Adeeb was eligible for the post. Also, Jaleel has stated that further action on the Lokayuktha report will be taken, Balan added.
It is being said that additional qualification were added to the existing ones for the post. More details will be obtained only after the order is obtained. Also, Adeeb was in job only for 10 or 15 days. He was removed from post on moral grounds. He had not received a single penny from the government, Balan further stated.
The chief minister need to take action on the report only within three months and so the government has time to take a decision, he added.