CM expresses reservation over HC's criticism of AG's office

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today expressed his reservation over the state High Court's criticism of the functioning of the Advocate General's office and asserted his government has full faith in it.
Replying to a notice moved by CPI(M)-led LDF Opposition in the Assembly for a debate on the issue, he termed certain remarks of the Judge as "very unfortunate" and said the government totally disagreed with the court's observations made yesterday.
Under Advocate General K P Dandapani, the government had not lost a single case in the last four years, Chandy said and turned table on the opposition by saying that during the previous LDF regime, the government had to spend crores of rupees to bring senior advocates to argue its cases.

Without naming anyone, Chandy said "One should not forget the dignity and responsibility of the position one holds. Then only one can function in favour of the society, otherwise it would be harmful to the society," he said.
"No one comes to a position by birth. Only through hardwork, one reaches a position and one should not forget the dignity and responsibility of that position," he said, adding, "Then only one will get the protection and recognition that (he) deserves."
Chandy also defended his objection to the appearance of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi in favour of bar hotel owners in the appeal challenging the state's liquor policy in the Supreme Court.

"I will continue my objection in such cases. Government brought liquor policy for the welfare of the society," he said.

Chandy objected to the Judge's reference that State AG's office should take lessons in working from neighbouring Tamil Nadu and brought to the notice of the assembly a recent Madras High Court order that called for mediation to settle rape cases.
He indicated this was recalled after Supreme Court in a related case decried such practice.
Kerala High Court Judge Justice Alexander Thomas while criticising the functioning of AG's office also stated that the Chief Minister has no right to question Attorney General when the AG's office was in "shambles".

Launching a scathing attack on the government over the issue, CPI(M) veteran and Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said the High Court criticism was actually a slap on the face of the UDF government. It exposed the lapses on the part of the government and AG's office, he said.
As Speaker N Sakthan disallowed the notice moved by Mathew T Thomas (JD-S), LDF members walked out of the House in protest.