Kerala CM denies UDF allegation of failure of law and order, criminalisation of police
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday denied in the Assembly the Congress-led UDF's allegations of criminalisation of police and failure of law and order in the state, saying that action has been taken against errant officers and goondas are not being protected.
The CM's contentions came while opposing the UDF's notice seeking adjournment of the House business for the day to discuss the issue of alleged failure of law and order in the state.
Referring to the recent Palakkad double murder and the alleged police assault on a family in Pathanamthitta district, UDF MLA N Shamsudeen claimed that both situations indicated police failure.
The MLA also cited various other instances of alleged police excesses and alleged that the force was criminalised.
Replying to these accusations, Chief Minister Vijayan conceded that there was a failure on the part of the force which led to the Palakkad double murder where a 72-year-old woman and her 53-year-old son were allegedly hacked to death by their neighbour Chenthamara.
Chenthamara was on bail in a murder case for killing the elderly woman's daughter-in-law in 2019.
Vijayan said that the Inspector of the Nenmara police station has been suspended pending enquiry for not taking seriously the complaints by the victims' family claiming threats to their life from the accused.
The CM also said that the officers accused of assaulting a family in Pathanamthitta outside a bar there have also been suspended and cases have been registered against them.
He contended that this indicates that the government's stance was against wrong acts and that it was taking strict action against errant officers.
"The police are no longer protecting criminals and are taking strong action against them," he said, citing various criminal cases solved by the law and order agency.
In view of the CM's stand opposing the notice to adjourn House business for the day to discuss the issue raised by the UDF, Speaker A N Shamseer denied permission for the same which led to the opposition staging a walkout from the Assembly in protest.
While leading a walkout, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan contended that the number of police officers having links with criminals was on the rise.
He also said that according to figures given by the CM in the House, 18 officers facing enquiry for alleged links with criminals were in service and that the conviction rate in the state was less than 10 per cent.
Satheesan said this was due to lack of proper investigation and prosecution.
He claimed that the recent acquittal of an actor and seven others by a Kochi court in a cocaine case was due to improper filing of the charge sheet.
He further alleged that political patronage was being given to criminals and as a result the number of 'goondas' was on the rise in the state.
Satheesan also exchanged heated words with the Speaker by claiming that Shamseer "deliberately interrupted" his speech several times to disrupt the flow of his words.
He made the allegation after the Speaker asked him to conclude his 'walkout speech' a few times.
In response to Satheesan's allegation, Shamseer told him that this was not the way to address the Chair.
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Karnataka to approach SC seeking permission to continue MGNREGA
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking permission to continue implementation of MGNREGA in the state, contending that the Centre had repealed the rural employment guarantee law without consultation and failed to put in place any alternative mechanism under the VB-G RAM G Act.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state would immediately move the apex court seeking permission to prepare and implement the annual action plan for rural employment works, while also challenging what it described as an infringement on the constitutional rights of states.
The parliament passed VB-G RAM G in December that replaces MGNREGA.
Patil explained that the Cabinet decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare an action plan in this regard. Since the Centre’s stand interferes with the constitutional rights of state governments, the Cabinet has also decided to challenge this issue before the appropriate court
“There are two points here. One is that they have come in the way of our constitutional right of providing the right to work. That has been halted, and, therefore, the State Government has decided to approach the Supreme Court. The second point is that the Government of India has not provided any alternative,” the Minister said.
The Central Government has not yet issued a notification to implement the VB-G RAM G Act, nor has it made any alternative arrangements and hence continuing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is unavoidable in the public interest, the Minister said.
“Therefore, in the interest of the public, farmers and agricultural labourers, we must continue MGNREGA. For that purpose, the Cabinet has decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare the action plan for this year,” he added.
The Minister also said the Centre had only permitted continuation of pending and spillover MGNREGA works without releasing grants or announcing a fresh action plan.
“The Centre itself has said that pending, spillover and half-done MGNREGA works can continue. That means MGNREGA is actually still functioning in practice. But there is no new action plan,” he said.
Patil said the state had already passed a resolution on the issue, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to the Prime Minister and the Rural Development Minister had held discussions with Union Ministers.
Replying to questions, the minister said the state would move court “as immediately as possible.”
He clarified that the state was seeking permission to formulate and implement this year’s action plan under the existing framework.
“What we are asking the Supreme Court is to allow us to have the action plan for this year and implement it,” he said.
The Cabinet also held detailed discussions on the final report submitted by the State Education Policy Commission headed by former UGC chairman Professor Sukhadeo Thorat.
Patil said a Cabinet sub-committee would be constituted to examine the report and recommend measures for implementation.
“No decision has been taken yet. The Cabinet sub-committee will recommend what should be accepted and what should be modified,” he said.
He said the report comprised around eight volumes and covered issues relating to financial implications, human resources, curriculum reforms, deemed universities, unitary universities and newly established universities. The Chief Minister has been authorised to constitute the sub-committee.
The Cabinet also approved the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Related Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Amendment Bill, 2026, transferring welfare administration of transport-related workers from the Labour Department to the Transport Department.
The Cabinet further approved establishment of three new industrial estates in Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Surpur under the Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation and Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 2026, providing two per cent reservation in state civil services appointments for sportspersons.
