Kochi (VSK). Reports suggest that Pinarayi regime spends several crores for judicial commissions. And, 1.5 crores spent for legal advices. It is since the first Pinarayi regime took over in 2016. Seven judicial commissions have been appointed since June 2016. And, two of them have not submitted any report at all. Six crores have been spent for the seven judicial commissions appointed. Then comes 1.5 crores spent for legal advices during a span of 4 years.
The aforementioned details are reported to be the findings of CAG for the period.
Total amount of monies spent for the seven judicial commissions so for is Rs. 6,01,11,166. The largest sum is spent for Justice P.A. Muhammed Commission; that is Rs. 2,77,44,814. The Commission was appointed to enquire into the clashes took place, in 2016, between the lawyers and the media persons in Kerala High Court.
CAG had reportedly found out some anomalies and violation of norms in the purchases and contracts in police department while Loknath Behra IPS was the State Police Chief (SPC). Then a three-member commission was appointed to formulate criteria for transactions and contracts in the department. Three years now, despite spending Rs 12,36,074 so far, no report submitted till date. Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair was the chairman of the Commission.
Appointment of Justice C.N. Mohan Commission was controversial. The Commission was appointed, on May 7, 2021, to enquire about the activities of central agencies in connection with infamous gold smuggling case of 2020. So far, no report submitted; expense so far is Rs 83,76,489. The Commission was appointed when the central agencies started to interrogate the people who are insiders of CPM and the LDF government.
The legal contingent of the state government consists of Law Secretary with the rank of district judge, Advocate General (AG) and two Additional AGs. Still government depends on legal advice from outside agencies and spends crores for it. Rs 1,47,40,000 was spent, between 2019 and 2022, for legal advice according to the information law minister gave in writing on the floor of the assembly.
Government spent Rs 5.50 lakhs for legal advices in connection with infamous solar case which rocked the Congress-led United Democratic Front government presided by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Rs. 15 lakhs was spent by the government regarding the controversy pertaining to the appointments of the vice chancellors. Rs 12 crores was spent for bringing top ranking lawyers from outside as per the information reportedly spread during the last session of the Assembly.
