Kochi: Kerala High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking vigilance inquiry against Civil Supplies and Food Minister Anoop Jacob and eight others in connection with widespread allegations of corruption and malpractice in paddy procurement by civil supplies corporation.
Dismissing the petition filed by General Secretary of All India Ration dealers Association Babychan Mukaddan, the court observed that it cannot order a vigilance probe merely on the basis of newspaper reports.
`We notice the specific contention of the state that the minister who took oath of office just prior to petitioner`s representation was impleaded allegedly with ulterior motives,` a division bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K Vinod Chandran said.
The bench observed it was not imposing cost on the petitioner since the matter was heard on admission with statements from Civil Supplies corporation and state on record.
"It is very pertinent that the petitioner has not pointed a single instance of complaint by the members of his association or general public regarding the rice supplied through Public Distribution System (PDS)," the bench pointed out.
PTI
