Child panel row: Health minister K K Shylaja refuses to bear cross alone

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan has defended health minister K.K. Shylaja in the row over the selection of the member of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and also said that the government would take legal steps to expunge the court remarks against the minister. Meanwhile, the minister maintained that she could not be held personally responsible for appointments to such commissions and it was the government's collective responsibility.

The row pertained to the appointment of T B Suresh, a CPM man from Wayanad, as a commission member. Replying to an adjournment motion of Congress MLA Shafi Parambil in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that the decision to extend the last date for submitting the application for the selection of members was taken as there were no applications from some districts as well as to ensure that more competent persons were considered for the selection.

He said that about 103 applications were initially received and after vetting by a committee of officers, only 40 were found to be eligible. There was not even a single application from some districts like Kasargod, Pathanamathitta and Thrissur. Hence the health minister decided to extend the date for submitting the application and received 51 more application. “The only intention was to ensure that competent persons are appointed at the Commission,” the Chief Minister maintained.

The Chief Minister also justified the action citing that the previous UDF government had extended the last date for selection of the chairman of the Commission. He also said that the minister did not get a chance to give her version before the high court.  The minister later told reporters that she never misused her office for personal gains. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged nepotism by the minister and demanded her resignation. He also pointed out that the LDFhad claimed the moral highground during the resignation of E P Jayarajan following nepotism charges, but had not applied it in the case against Shylaja.   Presenting his notice for the adjournment motion, Shafi Parambil quoted adverse remarks against the minister in the High Court order.