On a day of fast-moving political as well as legal developments, the Government, however, suffered a setback in the ice cream parlour case figuring the powerful Industries Minister and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P K Kunhalikkutty.

The Kerala High Court has stayed for a month the order of the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court directing the Vigilance to probe the role of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was the finance minister in the 1991-95 Karunakaran Ministry, in the palmolein case. The interim order was issued on a petition filed by Jiji Thomson, an IAS officer and an accused in the case, questioning the vigilance court order for reinvestigation in the palmolein case. The court, which has admitted the petition, has posted it for final hearing on October 17. The petitioner had argued that the vigilance court had no power to order reinvestigation in the case after the further investigation report was placed before it. The long delay in the disposal of the case had affected his career prospects, Thomson’s lawyer argued.

Earlier, the Vigilance Court judge P K Haneefa had sprung a surprise on the government by excusing himself from hearing the palmolein case. Haneefa took the decision following a vituperative personal attack launched against him by KC(M) leader P C George who is also the chief whip of the Government. George had written to the President of India and the Chief Justice of India seeking action against Haneefa for ordering reinvestigation in the palmolein case. George’s contention was that the judge had no powers to do so although Mr Haneefa himself has said that he had the powers to do so under section 173(8) of the CrPC.

Although chief minister Oommen Chandy himself has said nothing against the order or the judge, his refusal to restrain P C George from launching personal attacks against the judge had drawn all-round flak. Even some Congress MLAs have strongly condemned George’s unbridled attacks against the vigilance court judge. Criticising judgments is ok but personal criticism of the judge cannot be tolerated, they contended asking the party and the UDF to prevent George from acting like a bull in a China’s shop.

Though initially the Congress failed to do so, the damage George’s action has caused to the image of the party and the UDF, forced it to impose a ban on George making public criticism of the judge. The action, however, cannot undo the enormous damage the Congress’s double standards on the issue has already caused.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has emerged from the episode in poorer light. His contention that George was acting in his personal capacity holds no water as George sent the letter to the President on the letter pad of the chief whip. Chandy has neither condemned George’s personal attacks against the judge nor has he written to the President to say that his Government does not approve George’s action. Needless to say, Chandy’s failure to do so has further eroded his personal credibility and that of his Government, which has hit the rock bottom.

In the infamous ice cream parlour sex scandal case, the UDF government has suffered a setback. True, the court has not conceded opposition leader V S Achuthanandan’s demand for a CBI probe into the case at this point of time. The UDF leaders are claiming that it is a victory for the front and the government.

But the fact that the high court has directed that the investigation in the case would now be held under its supervision amounts to the court’s lack of confidence in the manner in which the Government has gone about investigating the case. VS has claimed, rightly so, that the court order signifies a severe indictment of the UDF Government. (IPA)