Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued a contempt notice to an IAS officer over the contents of a government order granting sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute officials of the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC) in a 2015 corruption case.
Justice A. Badharudeen said the earlier government order appeared to blame the judiciary while granting sanction to prosecute several accused, including former KSCDC chairman R. Chandrasekharan, who is also the Kerala president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).
The court was referring to a sanction order issued by the Kerala government on July 2. A fresh sanction order was later issued on July 6.
Expressing strong displeasure, the judge said disciplinary as well as contempt proceedings should be initiated against the officer, K. Biju.
"I won't spare this man from contempt proceedings. Strict action will be taken. There is no question of accepting an apology," the court observed.
Justice Badharudeen also remarked that the officer appeared to be trying to protect the accused "for reasons known to him".
The court said an IAS officer could not state that the sanction was being granted because the court had directed it.
"It was an order to be issued based on the facts, independent of the prosecution records, and on primary satisfaction on merits. It was not to be issued based on what the court said," the judge observed.
The court further said the document was not merely a sanction order but one that appeared intended to "target the judiciary and the system", describing the officer's approach as "a very dangerous attitude".
The High Court directed K. Biju to appear in person on July 10 and explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him.
The matter arose from a contempt petition filed by Kollam resident Kadakampally Manoj, who alleged that the state government had failed to comply with the High Court's directions to grant prosecution sanction to the CBI.
The corruption case dates back to 2015, when the CBI registered a case into alleged irregularities in the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation following directions from the High Court. After completing its investigation, the agency sought sanction from the Kerala government to prosecute the accused, including former KSCDC chairman R. Chandrasekharan.
