Page 41 - Kerala

Kerala moved SC against illegal financial measures of Centre: CM Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said his government has moved the Supreme Court against the Centre's allegedly "unconstitutional and illegal" measures that have pushed the southern state into dire straits financially. Vijayan contended that even though the state government repeatedly communicated to the Centre to stop its "discriminatory" actions, the Central government intensified its "vindictive moves" to make it difficult for Kerala to survive. "In this backdrop, the state government has approached the Supreme Court against the discriminatory measures of the Center which is throwing Kerala into dire straits by sacrificing the federal principles of the Constitution of India." he said at a press conference held here as part of the Nava Kerala Sadas, an outreach programme of the Left administration. The CM said the aim behind initiating the legal battle was to seek an order from the apex court under Article 131 of the Constitution which deals with settling ...

Net borrowing ceiling: Kerala moves SC alleging interference by Centre

The Kerala government has approached the Supreme Court accusing the Centre of interfering in exercise of its "exclusive, autonomous and plenary powers" to regulate the state's finances by imposing a ceiling on net borrowing. In an original suit filed under Article 131 of the Constitution, the Kerala government has said the Constitution bestows fiscal autonomy upon states to regulate their finances under various articles, and the borrowing limits or the extent of such borrowings are regulated by a state legislation. Article 131 of the Constitution deals with original jurisdiction of the apex court in any dispute between the Centre and states. The suit referred to the letters dated March 27 and August 11, 2023 issued by the Centre, through the Ministry of Finance (Public Finance-State Division), Department of Expenditure, and the amendments made to section 4 of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003. It alleged that the Centre "seeks to interfere with the finances

No uncontrolled situation in Sabarimala: Vijayan amid mismanagement claims

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the situation at Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala was under control amid a surging daily footfall and asserted the government machinery was intervening diligently in temple matters. Stating that the hill shrine generally witnesses heavy rush during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season, which began from November 17 this year, he said over 1.20 lakh devotees are offering worship at the temple daily this year, as per figures. As Sabarimala is a national pilgrimage centre, large number of devotees from neighbouring states were also arriving to offer worship, he said. Vijayan was addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the Nava Kerala Sadas outreach programme in the district. Coming under attack from opposition parties, including the Congress and the BJP over the government's alleged failure in managing the heavy rush at the hill shrine, the chief minister deputed state Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan to ...

Lenovo provides tech support to revive indigenous millets in Kerala

To revive indigenous varieties of millets in the country, technology company Lenovo has been providing digital and technical support at Kanthalloor in Kerala to grow six varieties of the cereal. Under its Work for Humankind Initiative, Lenovo set up a digital centre at the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) College for Applied Sciences, Kanthalloor, to provide access to technology tools to revive six millet varieties in Kerala that will help ease millet production processes and create market linkages, Lenovo Foundation Head of Asia Pacific CSR and Philanthropy Pratima Harite told PTI. In the first year of the project, which began in October, 25 farmers took part in the initiative to cultivate six varieties of millets in 25 acres of land, Harite said. The six millet varieties are finger millet, barnyard millet, little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, and kodo millet, some of which were still being grown for self consumption. "The farmers were selected by the villag

Kerala CM hatched conspiracy to hurt me: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan

The remarks came after the activists of the Students Federation of India, a student wing of the Communist Party of India held a black flag protest

Developed Kerala possible without Left, Cong: Chandrasekhar slams Vijayan

"That is not what the Kerala Malayali youth want - The future of Kerala is a Developed, Prosperous Kerala possible only without Left or its Corrupt INDI ally Congress," he added

CPI Kerala state secy Kanam Rajendran dies at 73 following cardiac arrest

Veteran CPI leader and the party's state secretary Kanam Rajendran died at a private hospital here on Friday following cardiac arrest, party sources said. He was 73. The senior leader of the Communist Party of India has been undergoing treatment at the hospital for multiple ailments including heart and kidney related issues and diabetes. His right foot was recently amputated to contain the spread of an infection due to diabetes and had applied for three months leave from the party responsibilities due to health reasons. Though the leader had expressed confidence of a speedy recovery, his health condition suddenly worsened this evening following a cardiac arrest, they said. The news of the unexpected demise of the veteran leader came as a shock for everyone cutting across political parties in the state. His death comes at a time Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other ministers are taking part in the Nava Kerala outreach programme in this district. The CM and his cabinet collea

SC allows Kerala's review plea seeking modification of 2022 ruling on ESZ

The Supreme Court has allowed the Kerala government's plea seeking review of its 2022 verdict which banned mining activities in protected forests such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and made it mandatory for them to have an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of 1 km. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Aniruddha Bose, in its December 5 order said, "The review petition is disposed of by modifying the judgment under review in terms of the directions and findings recorded in the order dated April 26, 2023 passed in various interlocutory applications" The top court had on April 26 this year modified its directions issued in the 2022 verdict on a plea by the Centre and different states, and said its directive will not be applicable where national parks and sanctuaries are located on inter-state borders and share common boundaries. It had said the 2022 directions will also not be applicable to the draft and final notifications in respect of national parks and sanctuaries ..

Inter-caste marriages can't be prevented, part of change: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said if a young man and woman like each other and decide to get married, irrespective of their caste or faith, no one can prevent the union. Vijayan said there has always been opposition to such marriages from parents of either side or both families, but that has not stopped such marriages. The CM was responding to reporters' queries in connection with a prominent Islamic scholar on Wednesday 'accusing' the ruling CPI(M) and its youth outfits of promoting inter-caste marriages and mixed culture in the name of secularism. Vijayan said that neither the SFI, the student wing of the CPI(M), nor the DYFI, the Left party's youth outfit, were working as "inter-caste marriage bureaus". "Such changes are happening in the state in accordance with the times and no organisation or the government is doing anything to bring about these changes," he said. "If a young man and woman like each other and decide to get married, no one in the world ca

If govt wants swift action on bills, explain urgency: Kerala Guv on row

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday said that the state government should come to the Raj Bhavan and give him an explanation if they wanted urgent action regarding any bill or ordinance. He also asked the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to ensure that the Marxist party's members and supporters avoid calling Pakistan Occupied Kashmir as 'Azad Kashmir' and not "stoke the fires of separatism and regionalism." Khan made these comments in response to media reports about him not signing two ordinances sent for his approval by the government. The Governor said that his enquiries after seeing the news reports found that the ordinances had come two-and-a-half weeks ago. "I request the CM to not speak to me through the media. I cordially invite him to the Raj Bhavan to explain to me the urgency regarding any bill or ordinance. If they want me to act with urgency, then they should come to the Raj Bhavan and explain the rationale of whatever they are proposing. I assure you .

Open to advice from state govt, not pressure: Kerala Guv Arif Mohammed Khan

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday said he was open to advice from the state government, "but not pressure from them." Khan's statement assumes significance as he has admitted that he succumbed to the pressure from the state government with regard to the re-appointment of Gopinath Ravindran as vice-chancellor (VC) of Kannur University a decision that has been quashed by the Supreme Court. The Governor, speaking to reporters here, said he succumbed to the government pressure only because there was a legal opinion from the Advocate General (AG), the highest law officer in the state, in favour of the re-appointment. "I have said before the whole of the media that what I did was wrong. But, I succumbed to that pressure only because there was a legal opinion from the AG. Otherwise, the political pressure I would have resisted. "If I have some confusion about the legality of something, to whom would I go? The AG. He is the highest legal officer in the state," Khan said. He

No proposal to relax borrowing limits for Kerala, other states: Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said there is no proposal to relax the existing terms for borrowing capacity of state governments, including Kerala for 2023-24. Kerala has requested the Centre to allow an additional borrowing equivalent to one per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) over and above the borrowing ceiling fixed for 2023-24 fiscal year. In a reply in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the Centre applies a common yardstick while fixing the annual borrowing limit of all state governments under Article 293(3) of the Constitution. In doing so, it is guided by the recommendations of the Finance Commission, she said. To a question on whether the Centre proposes to relax the existing borrowing terms considering the financial crisis of Kerala, Sitharaman replied in the negative. For current fiscal year, the gross borrowing ceiling of Kerala has been fixed at Rs 47,762.58 crore. Out of this, Rs 29,136.71 crore is Open Market Borrowing (OMB) while the rest is

Congress' greed, lust of power led to defeat in Assembly elections: Vijayan

In a strong criticism of the Congress, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said that the grand old party's "greed and lust for power" were the reasons for its defeat in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Vijayan said that the Congress thought it was competent to win against the BJP on its own and therefore, did not join forces with the other INDIA alliance parties in these states to present a united front against the saffron party. "Had they joined hands with the other parties, this would not have been the result. They were greedy and lusted for power. They wanted it all for themselves. That is what led to this situation in those states. "If everyone was together, the result would have been an entirely different one," the Kerala CM said at a press briefing here. Vijayan was responding to queries on what led to the resounding poll defeat of Congress in the three states, two of which -- Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh

Noted economist Professor M Kunjaman found dead at his residence in Kerala

Noted economist Professor M Kunjaman was found dead at his residence here on Sunday, police said. He was 74. Police said he was found dead at his residence at Sreekaryam near here, and they were informed by the residents' association. Kunjaman, also a Dalit rights activist, was a professor of economics at Kerala University for over two decades. In his condolence message, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kunjaman was a genius who overcame adverse social circumstances with his sheer determination. "Noted for his original understandings and opinions, he had his own vision for Kerala's development. His autobiography, 'Ethiru' is a reflection of the realities of life," Vijayan said, adding that Kunjaman was a teacher with many disciples and a noted writer. The chief minister said Kunjaman's death was a great loss for Kerala.

Kerala objects to Centre's call to deduct Rs 332 cr from IGST settlement

The Kerala government on Saturday raised an objection to a deduction of around Rs 332 crore from the settlement of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) for November 2023 to the state and said it will affect the fiscal situation in the southern state. Addressing the media here, state Finance Minister K N Balagopal said it was not clear as to why this amount was deducted in this manner or what are the calculations underlying such deduction. The senior Left leader also said that a letter in this regard was sent to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking her "urgent intervention". He said an amount of approximately Rs 332 crore was deducted from the settlement of IGST towards "adjustment of advance apportionment to make up the shortfall in the IGST balance". "This deduction is a substantial chunk of the state revenue and adversely affects the fiscal situation in the state," Balagopal said. In the letter, the state finance minister said the calculations of settlements nee

CM rejects allegations of interference in Kannur Univ VC reappointment

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday rejected Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's claims that the government interfered with the re-appointment of Kannur University's Vice Chancellor. On Thursday, the Supreme Court criticised Khan's order reappointing Gopinath Ravindran, stating that the Governor had previously "abdicated or surrendered" his statutory powers for reappointing the VC. The court, while quashing the reappointment, also criticised the Left government for its "unwarranted intervention" in the matter. Talking to media in Shoranur in this north Kerala district, Vijayan dismissed news reports suggesting that the Supreme Court's verdict was a setback for the Kerala government, and termed them baseless. He clarified that the apex court had affirmed that due process was followed in the reappointment. Despite this, the governor continued to claim in the media that there was external pressure, Vijayan added. "The letter written by the ex-officio pro-chancellor -- the high

Global Ayurveda Festival 2023: Ministers from across the world to join

5th edition of Global Ayurveda Festival 2023 will take place in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala today. This is a five-day event which will begin today. VP Jagdeep Dhankhar will inaugurate the event

Experts warn of Covid spike in Kerala as vaccine-induced immunity wanes

Kerala now has 194 active cases, accounting for 61 per cent of the active cases in India

Kerala Guv blames Vijayan for pressuring him to reappoint Kannur Univ VC

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of pressuring him to reappoint Gopinath Ravindran as the vice chancellor (VC) of Kannur University. Khan, speaking to reporters here, said that state Higher Education Minister R Bindu was not to be blamed as the CM used her for seeking reappointment of Ravindran. The Governor's response comes after the Supreme Court quashed the Kerala government's decision to re-appoint Ravindran as the VC of Kannur University. A division bench of the Kerala High Court had on February 23 last year dismissed an appeal against a single-judge order upholding the re-appointment of Ravindran as the VC of the university, saying it was done in accordance with the law and that he was not "an usurper to the post". The impugned judgement and the order passed by the high court dated February 23, 2022 is hereby set aside and as a consequence, the notification dated November 23, 2021 reappointing the respondent number 4 ...

SC to mull over forming guidelines on when governors can send bills to prez

Voicing displeasure over Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan "sitting" for two years on bills passed by the state legislature, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday it will consider laying down the guidelines as to when the governors can refer bills to the President of India for assent. While noting that the Kerala governor has taken decisions with regard to eight bills, the apex court asked him to meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the minister concerned to discuss the legislations, observing let's hope some "political sagacity" takes over. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submissions of Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the office of the governor, that out of the eight bills, seven have been "reserved" for consideration by the president, while Khan has given his assent to one. "What was the governor doing for two years by sitting on the bills?" the bench, also comprising justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, asked. The attorney .