Kerala moves High Court to expunge remarks against Health minister K K Shylaja

Kochi: The state government on Monday filed an appeal before the High Court seeking to expunge the adverse remarks against Minister K.K. Shylaja by a single judge while quashing the appointments of  Mr T.B. Sureshkumar, CPM Wayanad district committee member,  and Ms Syamala Devi (Kasargod),  as members of the State Child Rights Commission. The petition stated that the remarks and observations were made without making the minister  a respondent in the case. No opportunity was given to the minister for stating  her stand. Those remarks were not necessary for the proper disposal of the case, the appeal said.

The court had criticised Ms Shylaja on a petition filed by Dr. Jasmine Alex, Vallichira, Kottayam,  challenging the selection process. The court had observed that the files did not disclose the reasons for extending the outer time limit for the submission of application by the minister. When the minister issues a specific direction, the files should disclose the reason for the decision. If the files does not disclose any reasons, the court would only presume the decision was not taken bona fide in such cases. The minister had directed to enlarge the outer limit prescribed for submission of the application till January 20, 2017 by a fresh notification. She had not called for any information or clarification regarding whether sufficient  number of  applications were received, the single judge pointed out.