News and Views

Members of the United Democratic Front staged a walk out in the Assembly on Thursday over the Government failing to support new medical colleges set up by the previous Government.

The walk-out followed Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan refusing permission to move an adjournment motion, given notice of by former Health Minister V. S. Sivakumar, on the basis of explanation given by Health Minister K. K. Shylaja.

New Dehi: Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of the recommendations of 7^th Central Pay Commission (CPC) on pay and pensionary benefits.   It will come into effect from 01.01.2016.

Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft white paper on the financial position of the State.

The white paper will be presented to the Assembly on Thursday.

The Cabinet decided to take over four schools which had been closed down under orders from the courts.

Thiruvananthapuram: Tax evasion is the main reason that caused financial crisis of the State, Finance Minister T .M. Thomas Isaac said in the Assembly on Wednesday.

In reply to a question from K. V. Abdul Khader (CPI-M), the Minister said that high rates of corruption, outdated technologies in Commercial Taxes Department and inefficiency in revenue collections led to revenue loss. Stays issued on tax collection resulted in mounting of arrears. Of the tax arrears of Rs. 12,906 crore, Rs. 76 crore was under dispute.

Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan told the Assembly on Wednesday that the government would not resort to any vindictive transfers against employees belonging to pro-Opposition unions.

The Chief Minister was responding to a notice given by P. T. Thomas (Congress) for moving an adjournment motion seeking discussion on large scale transfer of government employees by the new government.