Kozhikode: Amid controversies over the appointment of kith and kin of CPM bigwigs as heads of various corporations and other government agencies, the Lokayukta has ordered a preliminary inquiry into the appointment of Dr Mohammed Asheel as the executive director of Kerala Social Security Mission. The case was registered on a complaint filed by Ravi Ulliyeri, a social activist who alleged that Dr Asheel was selected violating all norms.
As per the by-law of KSSM that he submitted as evidence, “the executive director of the Mission shall be a social scientist/ administrator of eminence. He shall also be the ex-officio member secretary of the Mission and shall be appointed by Government of Kerala”. For appointing the executive director on deputation, the by-law says the “deputation from government service or re-employment of an officer not below the rank of additional secretary to government”, which has, it says, also been violated.
The order dated September 6 by Justice Pius C. Kuriakose directs the state police chief to spare the services of IG (headquarters) Suresh Raj Purohit to conduct an inquiry and submit a report before October 6. The complainant also alleged that the lone merit for appointing Dr Asheel as the ED of the mission was his close links with CPM leadership including health minister K.K. Shailaja. However, IG Suresh Raj Purohit told DC that he had started the inquiry late as the order went first to the Kerala Police Academy, Thrissur, where he was posted. “The order reached me late, and I will submit the report as soon as possible,” he said.
