State Human Rights Commission asks CM Oommen Chandy to intervene

KOCHI: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should intervene  to remove the obstacles in setting up the proposed cancer centre in Kochi,  opined Kerala state human rights commission chairman Justice (Retd) J.B. Koshy on Thursday.

He has  asked the government  to submit a report by the chief secretary and health secretary  on the steps taken for setting up the centre by December 30.  The commission  will have further hearing on the matter in the sitting scheduled on January 11 in Kakkanad.

In the hearing held on Thursday, the commission found that although the government had  appointed Asha Thomas as special officer and Dr V.P. Gangadharan as technical officer in September,  the order specifying their duties and responsibilities was not issued so far. Justice Koshy said that it was a lapse on the part of the health secretary.

It may be recalled that Deccan Chronicle was the first to report  the matter on November 15. The commission has also pointed out that al-though the excise department had  promised to provide Rs 10 crore   for the project,  nobody was authorised to collect the amount.

A bank account was also not opened for the purpose. The commission said that complainants had  stated that the lack of pace for setting up the cancer centre and Ernakulam Medical College was to help some private  hospitals.

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