HC Judge denies helping accused in solar scam

Amid the political row over solar panel scam, a Kerala High Court Judge today refuted media reports stating that he had endorsed the products of accused company Team Solar.
Justice B Kemal Pasha clarified that he had never given any letter either to Team Solar or any other person for promoting their product, an official statement quoted him as saying.
In a statement issued by the Kerala High Court, Justice Pasha said while he was functioning as district judge and chairman of Kerala district legal service authority, Ernakulam, some NGOs including Team Solar had come to his office with some pamphlets showing solar lights would be installed free of cost in the streets of Kochi.

The programme, 'Smile Kochi' was to be implemented with cooperation of Kochi Corporation and the organisers wanted to bring out a souvenir with his message as Chairman of the Legal Services Authority, Justice Pasha said.
"As we were conducting various programmes on environmental protection, pollution, global warming etc, I gave a message congratulating the proposal as it would save electrical energy and not cause any pollution. Apart from any such message I have never given any letter either to team solar or any other person for promoting their products," he said.
Reports alleging a high court judge endorsing the Team Solar product was carried by a section of the media today.

The issue has been rocking the state assembly for the third consecutive day today with the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) disrupting the proceedings demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Ommen Chandy.