HC: State lost money on VS’ lawyer import

Nov 01, 2011 |

Kochi

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V S Achuthanandan

The Kerala High Court on Monday came down heavily on the previous V.S. Achuthanandan government for roping in lawyers from outside the state to represent it in the ice cream parlour sex scandal case, and directed the state government to submit details of their fee.

A division bench comprising of the acting Chief Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair and Justice P.S.

Gopinathan gave this directive on a petition filed by Kolakkadan Moosa Haji who alleged that the government had to give Rs 16 lakh to Supreme Court lawyers.

The bench said that there was no need for seeking legal advice from outside when competent and efficient legal officers including the advocate-general were available in the state.

“Seeking help from outside amounts to insulting the state-appointed legal officials; the government should respect and trust law officials whom it has appointed,” the court said.

The petitioner argued that former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, sought the help of costly lawyers in order to wreak vengeance on his political opponents.

“Without any request from the investigating officer, Mr Achuthanandan sought legal opinion in the ice cream case and thereby incurred a debt of Rs 16 lakh for the state exchequer,” the petitioner argued.

The court also asked the government whether it had any intention of making the payment. Loss to the state exchequer was unbearable for “our poor state,’ the bench held.

However, advocate-general K.P. Dandapani told the court that the present UDF government had no plan to seek advice from SC lawyers.

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