Kochi: The Kerala HC has stayed the government order empowering secretaries to spend the municipal council funds for meeting the requirements of the Nava Kerala Sadas. The stay order was issued upon considering a petition filed by Paravoor municipal council chairperson Beena Sasidharan.

The court stressed that the funds can be transferred only after the consent of all the council members. The order was issued by Justice Bechu Kurian. The stay order will be valid until the petition is resolved.

The high court stated that the Kerala government has no authority to issue an order for using funds of local self government institutions for meeting the government expenses. However, in an affidavit filed by the additional chief secretary, the official said that the government had not issued a strict order in the matter and also specified that the parties had the option to comply or not comply with the government instructions. 

Meanwhile, the advocate general, citing the Kerala municipality rules, argued that it was well within the rights of the Kerala government to demand funds from the municipal councils. He accused the petition filed by Beena Sasidharan as being misleading and ill-intended.