Probe ordered into alleged irregularities by Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter's firm: Centre to Kerala HC
Kochi, Jan 15: The Centre on Monday told the Kerala High Court that it has issued an order under the Companies Act for an investigation into the alleged irregularities by the software firm of Veena T, the daughter of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Orders have been issued under section 210 (investigation into affairs of company) of the Companies Act and the same will be produced on record by the next date of hearing, it said.
Noting the submission, Justice Devan Ramachandran directed the Centre to file on record the order issued by it before January 19 and listed the matter for hearing on January 24.
The court said that by then the respondents, including the chief minister, his daughter, her firm, Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd, were at liberty to respond to the Centre's order.
The court was hearing a plea by Shone George, a lawyer and son of veteran politician P C George, seeking an investigation into Veena's company under the Companies Act and action against it by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).
The petitioner told the court that only action under the Companies Act had been initiated and insisted that this was a matter where the SFIO also had a role.
In view of the petitioner's contention, the court directed the Centre's lawyer to "obtain specific instructions, if any further action by the SFIO has been ordered or found warranted by the next posting date".
A controversy erupted in Kerala after a Malayalam daily reported last year that CMRL had paid a total of Rs 1.72 crore to the chief minister's daughter between 2017 and 2020.
The news report cited the ruling of an interim board for settlement and said that CMRL previously had an agreement with Veena's IT firm for consultancy and software support services.
It also alleged that although no service was rendered by her firm, the amount was paid on a monthly basis "due to her relationship with a prominent person".
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
TISS withdraws controversial notice to faculty and staff members over non-renewal of contracts
Mumbai, Jun 30: The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on Sunday said it has withdrawn the notices given to 55 teaching and 60 non-teaching staff of non-renewal of contracts and asked them to continue their work.
In the circular, the TISS said all 55 faculty and 60 non-teaching staff were appointed under programs funded by Tata Education Trust (TET) and were on a contractual basis with exact programme period.
The contracts of the teaching and non-teaching staff at four TISS campuses -- Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad and Guwahati were due to end on June 30 (Sunday).
Ongoing discussions with Tata Education Trust have provided assurance that resources will be made available to TISS to resolve this issue, the circular said, adding TET has committed to releasing funds for salaries of TET project/programme faculty and non-teaching staff.
"The letter numbered Admn/5(1) TET-Faculty & Staff/2024, dated 28th June 2024, addressed to all concerned TET Programme faculty and non-teaching staff, is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect. They are requested to continue their work, and salaries will be released as soon as the TET Support Grant is received by the institute," the circular said.
The non-renewal of contract had invited sharp criticism from the students body and fellow faculty members.
A faculty member said these contracts had been issued for the teaching and non-teaching staff from grants received from the Tata Trust.
They accused the TISS administration of not foreseeing the situation.
"It is over the last 10-15 years that we have been receiving grants for employing additional faculty to teach various courses. That funding was to be renewed. The no-cost extension and renewal of grant doesn't seem to have happened in a timely manner," the person said.
"We were apprised on June 28 about the non-renewal of contracts. We told the TISS administration not to issue the letters (pertaining to non-renewal of contracts) till it hears from the Tata Trust. Let us try to find a solution. But our appeal did not find favour," the faculty member said.
Some of the teaching staff members were even part of the interview process which selects candidates for academic sessions for various courses last month, the person said.
"We asked the administration about the status of funding last month and we were told there was no reason to worry. But, suddenly notices were issued that contracts have not been renewed due to lack of funds. This is sheer mismanagement on part of the administration which could not foresee what was coming," the faculty member claimed.
Another faculty member said usually contracts get over and teaching members continue to work. In the past, no notice of termination of contracts was given. "It seems this has been done deliberately," he claimed.
The Progressive Students Forum on Saturday claimed the episode is a complete failure of the current TISS administration in running the institute and apathy of the BJP-led Union government.
"The recent blunders made by the Ministry of Education in conducting nationwide entrance examinations only add to the incompetence of the central government," it charged.
