News and Views

Thiruvananthapuram: The controversy over appointment of Harvard professor Gita Gopinath as Economic Advisor to Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan has intensified with disclosure that the appointment was without the knowledge of CPI (M).

Kerala Congress (Mani) leaders kept away from UDF meeting on Monday.

Though the meeting was held taking the convenience of Kerala Congress leader K. M. Mani also into consideration, Mr. Mani informed the UDF leaders that he would not be able to attend the meeting owing to personal inconveniences. Though P. J. Joseph was in Thiruvananthapuram, he also did not attend the meeting.

Local audit has detected major irregularities in the use of funds by Kerala Road Safety Authority.

The Government as well as the Authority violated provisions of the law regarding use of Road Safety Fund. Much money is remaining unused.

Kerala government has ordered that orders and circulars issued pursuant to Cabinet decisions by government departments should be uploaded to official Websites along with copies of the proceedings and the notes submitted to the Cabinet.

The order, issued by Chief Secretary S. M. Vijayanand on Wednesday, directs that the uploading should be done immediately after the orders or circulars are issued, if possible on the same day.

Kochi: A committee will be formed with the Advocate General as Chairman for avoiding conflicts between the lawyers and the media persons in Kochi.

This was decided at a conciliatory meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan in Kochi on Saturday.

The committee will have a representative of Kerala Bar Association, three representatives of High Court Advocates Association and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists. Director General of Police could be an invitee when issues connected to the police are also involved.