Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Assembly was adjourned for the day on Monday following disruption of proceedings by CPI-M led LDF opposition over the decision of Vigilance Court Judge to recuse himself from hearing the politically-sensitive
palmolein import case.
The opposition charged the Congress-led UDF government with trying to `intimidate` judiciary and said Vigilance Judge PK Haeefa recused himself from hearing the case further due to pressure put on him by the government.
Opposition members trooped into the well of the House and interrupted the proceedings by raising slogans demanding resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and government Chief Whip PC George, who lodged a complaint against Haneefa with President and Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan alleged that there was a conspiracy behind George`s complaint hatched by Chandy, Finance and Law Minister KM Mani and said the government was using the administrative mechanism to scuttle the case.
Efforts by Speaker G Karthikeyan to sort out the issue by holding discussions with floor leaders of both sides failed to yield any positive result.
Refuting the LDF charge, Chandy said the government had never come in the way of judiciary`s independent functioning and the Opposition need not entertain any hope that the government could be weakened by pressure tactics.
In a suo motu decision, Haneefa had on Saturday withdrew himself from further hearing of the case regretting personal attack against him in connection with the two-decade-old case.
The case pertained to import of 32,000 tonnes of palmolein from Malayasia which allegedly caused loss of Rs 2.32 crore to state exchequer in 1992. Chandy was the Finance Minister in the late Congress leader K Karunakaran ministry then.
PTI
