Govt`s first priority should be to find solution to people`s problems: Kerala HC

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday orally observed that the government`s first priority should be to find a solution to the problems of people.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K Vinod Chandran made the observation when two petitions against the Secretariat siege by Left Democratic Front volunteers, which has now been called off, came up before the court. The bench asked Advocate General KP Dandapani as to which problem the government was giving priority-- flood related activities or the present problem? "When our state is facing huge loss in agriculture due to heavy rains experienced this year, the government`s first priority should be given to the problem of the people`, the court orally held. The bench said `we are not arbitrators to decide who is wrong`. In reply to the plea that provisions of restriction of Assemblies and Procession on Public Pavement Act are not being enforced by the government, the court said that Constitutional courts cannot compel enforcement of law. The state government filed a statement showing the precautionary measures taken to face the situation of agitation. Though the parties were asked to address the court in the afternoon, when the matter taken up, the court was informed that the strike had been called off. Following the request of the petitioners, the case was adjourned to Monday. Ruling UDF earlier had earlier today announced a probe into the solar scam, leading to CPI-M led LDF Opposition calling off their siege to the secretariat,which saw thousands of protesters converging in the state capital since yesterday, demanding resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The scam pertains to financial cheating of several people by the accused Biju Radkahrishnan and Saritha Nair, both under arrest, by offering clients solar energy solutions. The accused allegedly flaunted their clout with the CM`s office for duping unsuspecting clients of huge sums. PTI