Ensure participation of senior fin department officer in Sabarimala master plan panel meetings: Kerala HC

Kochi: High court on Monday directed the additional chief secretary of the finance department to ensure the participation of an officer not below the rank of additional secretary in the meetings of the Sabarimala master plan high power committee.A bench of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar passed the order while considering a report submitted by the Sabarimala high power committee, which sought the participation of a senior officer from the finance department. The committee pointed out that several issues before it pertain to the non-disbursement of funds despite budgetary allocations having been made. HC also directed the high power committee to intimate the additional chief secretary in advance about the dates of its meetings to ensure the attendance of the concerned officer.Earlier, HC had sought instructions from the state govt regarding the participation of an additional secretary from finance department in the meetings of the high power committee. During hearing on Monday, it was submitted that a decision on the issue was yet to be taken by the finance department. Taking note of the urgency of the matter, HC suo motu impleaded the additional chief secretary (finance) as a party to the proceedings and directed him to ensure the participation of an officer not below the rank of additional secretary in the committee’s meetings.HC also fixed an honorarium of Rs 1.05 lakh for the newly appointed chairman of the Sabarimala high power committee, bringing it on a par with the honorarium paid to the devaswom ombudsman.