HC declines to stay proceedings in palmolein import case

The Kerala High Court today declined to stay further proceedings in connection with a case of alleged corruption in import of palmolein.
Justice P Ubaid closed the writ petition filed by the then Director of the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Jiji Thomson challenging further proceedings in the case at the Thrissur Vigilance Court.
The court said the petitioner can approach the Thrissur Vigilance Court if he wants to get the case adjourned.
The court passed the order after hearing a plea by Thomson seeking an interim stay of all further proceedings in the case at the Vigilance Court till disposal of a petition before the Supreme Court.

The writ petition was filed after the Vigilance Court last month decided to continue proceedings against five respondents including Jiji Thomson in the case.
The court had acquitted the third and fourth respondents.

The palmolein case relates to the time when K Karunakaran was Kerala Chief Minister in 1991-92. It dealt with the irregularities in the import of palmolein at USD 405 per tonne, while the price in the international market was USD 392.25 per tonne.
According to estimates, the public exchequer suffered a loss of Rs 2.32 crore due to the import of palmolein.
Besides Karunakaran, then Civil Supplies Minister T H Musthafah, Chief Secretary S Padmakumar, Additional Chief Secretary Zachariah Mathew and Jiji Thomson were marked as respondents in the case.

Karunakaran was removed as a respondent after his demise.
Meanwhile, Thrissur Vigilance Court judge S S Vasan was today transferred to Thiruvananthapuram as judge, Motor Acccident Claims Tribunal. The transfer was made based on Vasan's request.