Page 3 - Kerala Government

Kerala Guv says Balagopal violated oath, seeks action; CM rejects demand

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informing he has "ceased to enjoy pleasure" in Finance Minister K N Balagopal, accusing him of making speech undermining unity, and urged the CM to take constitutionally appropriate action against his cabinet colleague, a demand turned down by the latter. The Chief Minister has shot back a letter to the Governor rejecting his demand seeking action against Balagopal, an official source told PTI. He reiterated his trust on Balagopal, saying it remains "undiminished." In his letter, the Governor did not explicitly seek for the removal/withdrawal of Balagopal from the LDF cabinet but it seemed to be the essence of his communication to Vijayan. A highly placed source said that in his response, Vijayan said that from a constitutional perspective and factoring in the democratic conventions and traditions of the country, the statement cannot warrant a ground for cessation of enjoyment of the Governor's ...

Kerala guv writes to CM Vijayan, wants finance minister Balagopal sacked

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, in a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, informed that he has "ceased to enjoy pleasure" in Finance Minister KN Balagopal

Will not be scared off from improving higher education in Kerala: CM

Will not be scared off by 'pippadividyas' (tricks) while trying to improve higher education in the state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday as the ruling LDF kicked-off a state-wide two-day protest against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's recent moves against VCs of several universities. Speaking at an event here, Vijayan said there would be people who are intolerant towards the progress the state was making in improving the field of higher education and they may try to create hurdles in the path of the government. "We will not run away scared or walk away in the face of such hurdles or obstructions, instead we will go ahead with our objective to strengthen the field of higher education in a time bound manner. "People who cannot tolerate or accept the same are coming out with various 'pippadividyas' (tricks). I would like to tell them to keep the same to themselves," the CM said. Later in the day, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan inaugurated a protest close to

Kerala govt launches mobile app to prevent cyber crimes against children

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday launched the 'Kunjapp', a mobile application to prevent cyber crimes against children in the state. Vijayan also inaugurated the training for the newly appointed Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) members at Kovalam near here. Addressing the newly appointed members, the Chief Minister said children should not suffer physical, mental or sexual exploitation and the members should work together as they have an important role to play in protecting the children. "The CWC and the JJB members should ensure that the society follows the laws in connection with the children and to make sure that those children who violate law are transformed into model citizens. The members play a major role in moulding the coming generation," he said. Vijayan said the duty of the CWC and JJB members is to ensure the safety and security of the children. "They (CWC and JJB members) take a decision on the safety and rehabilitation

Vijayan mulls giving research students access to labs in foreign countries

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said his government will initiate steps to make available in the state facilities that research students in foreign universities have access to. Interacting with a section of doctors and research students at Bergen in Norway, Vijayan said the Scandinavian country provided its students opportunities to use the facilities in other countries for research purposes, and was of the opinion that such a model could be implemented in Kerala too. "Students carrying out research activities in Norway have the opportunity to use the laboratories in other countries. If our research students get such advanced facilities, the quality of our research can improve," he said. The Chief Minister's Office said in a release that during Vijayan's interaction, it was pointed out to him that most students in Kerala were not aware of the research scholarships funded by the state and the Centre. To overcome this, the chief minister has assured to set up an ..

Kerala to implement projects worth Rs 97.77 crore in 'ayush' sector

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday said developmental projects worth Rs 97.77 crore would be implemented in the 'Ayush' sector in the State this year. Compared to the previous years, a three-fold increase has been made in the allocations to the sector, which comprises streams, including Ayurveda and Homeopathy, she said. In addition to the existing 240 units as new projects, 280 new ayush dispensaries would be upgraded as "Aysuh Arogya Swasthya Kendras", the Minister said here in a statement. A 50-bed ayush-integrated hospital would be set up at Attappadi, one of the most backward tribal settlements, at a cost of Rs 15 crore, she said adding that similar integrated hospitals would be set up in Kottarakkara and Adoor by spending Rs 10.50 crore and Rs 7.5 crore respectively, George said. Schemes worth Rs 5.25 crore have been given approval to make two Government Ayurvedic Medical Colleges and two homeopathic government medical colleges patient-friendly. Setting up of 5

70 buses damaged in violence, corporation suffered Rs 45 lakh loss: KSRTC

The Kerala government and the KSRTC on Friday informed the Kerala High Court that 70 KSRTC buses were damaged in the hartal called by the Popular Front of India (PFI) and subsequent violence in the state. The state-run public transport corporation submitted before the High Court that it suffered a loss of Rs 45 lakh due to the damages suffered due to the stone pelting and violence during the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the PFI. Justice Devan Ramachandran asked the corporation whether this loss will be recovered from those who held the hartal. He also said that law was being violated due to lack of fear in the law enforcement system. The court asked the government to submit the steps taken by it in the incident. Multi-agency teams spearheaded by the NIA had arrested 106 functionaries of the PFI on Thursday in near simultaneous raids at 93 locations in 15 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country. Kerala, where PFI has some strong pockets, accounted for the

Governor cannot reject, withhold bills indefinitely, says Kerala govt

A Governor can withhold the bills passed by a state Assembly, but it cannot be for an indefinite period nor can he reject them, the Kerala government said on Monday. State Law Minister P Rajeeve, speaking to reporters here, said under the Constitution the Governor has the power to give assent to bills, withhold them or send them to the President of India. "The Governor does not have the power to reject the bills," he said. His remarks come in the wake of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan last week saying that will not allow the University Laws Amendment Bill recently passed by the state Assembly as it allegedly seeks to legalise illegalities and pave the way for appointment of "unqualified relatives" of the staff of the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues. Recently, a row broke out over the attempt to appoint the wife of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's personal secretary in the Malayalam department in Kannur University though she had the lowest research score but highest i

Functioning of Kerala govt not satisfactory, CM handling all depts: CPI

CPI's Ernakulam District conference has criticised Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in its working report which was presented at the conference

Kerala govt moves HC against order by lower court in sexual harassment case

The Kerala government on Friday moved the High Court seeking to set aside a sessions court order granting bail to social activist and writer 'Civic' Chandran in a case of sexually abusing a Dalit woman, contending that the judgement of the lower court "suffers from illegality and manifest errors" warranting its intervention. While granting bail to Chandran in the case, Kozhikode Sessions Court judge S Krishnakumar, in his order dated August 2, had observed that the accused is a reformist, and against the caste system and it is highly unbelievable that he will touch the body of the victim fully knowing that she belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC). Observing that the accused is fighting against the caste system and is involved in a number of agitations, the court had also said the offences under various sections of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act will not prima facie stand against him. In its appeal, the state government contended that the order passed by the sessions court is ..

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launches state govt's own e-taxi service app

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday launched the LDF government's own e-taxi service app -- named 'Kerala Savari' -- which is considered to be the first such initiative by any state in the country. Vijayan also flagged off, at the app launch event, the auto-rickshaws which would be operating under the new online taxi hiring service that has been rolled out by the state Labour Department. Under the new initiative, the objective is to link the existing autorickshaw-taxi networks in Kerala with an aim to ensure safe and dispute-free travel for the public at affordable rates prevailing in the state. It is also envisaged as a helping hand to the autorickshaw-taxi labour sector, which is facing several challenges, the government had said last month when it had announced the launch of the service. The government had said it has been learnt that there was a difference of 20-30 per cent between the rate received by the motor transport labourers and the rate charged from the

What was the emergency? Kerala Guv to examine ordinance re-promulgations

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said he will examine if there was any emergency for re-promulgating several LDF government ordinances which stand lapsed for want of his approval by August 8.

Kerala FM blames Centre for cutting resources by Rs 23,000 crore

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal has written to Nirmala Sitharaman asking her not to include borrowings of state entities while fixing their debt limits

African swine fever reported in Wayanad, state govt to cull 300 pigs

Hours after African swine fever was reported from two farms in Wayanad in Kerala, the district authorities on Friday initiated steps to cull at least 300 pigs.

Rising airfares hitting revival of tourism: Pinarayi Vijayan to PM Modi

Besides the rising air fares, another issue which Vijayan drew the Prime Minister's attention to was the Railways decision to abandon the Nemom Coaching Terminal project in Thiruvananthapuram

No need to respond to allegations, my life is an open book : Kerala CM

CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said there was no need for him to respond to allegations against him each and every time regarding the gold smuggling case as his life was an open book before the public.

Kerala govt to give Rs 1.3 crore as compensation to former ISRO scientist

On the basis of Jaykumar's recommendations, the cabinet took the decision

Some state govt portals to start integration with ONDC soon

The Kerala government is expected to begin on-boarding its consumer-facing portals with the network this month, according to a source in the know

Threats by opposition useless as people are with Left govt, says CM Vijayan

Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday slammed Congress and BJP for demanding his resignation after gold and currency smuggling case prime accused Swapna Suresh claimed he and his family were also involved

Opposition leader demands resignation of CM Vijayan in gold smuggling case

Kerala's VD Satheesan on Saturday said that Pinarayi Vijayan should "stay away from the Chief Minister's chair" while he is accused of being involved in a gold smuggling case.