THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to entrust appointments of non-teaching staff in all universities of the State to the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC). The decision follows High Court strictures over the appointments made by the University of Kerala a few years ago.
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told the media after the weekly Cabinet meeting that immediate steps would be taken to leave the appointments to the PSC. He said irregularities that had taken place in the appointments made by the University of Kerala and the court orders and strictures over them had to be considered seriously.
Mr. Achuthanandan said the Cabinet had decided to annul the tender floated by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for Part A of the works under the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme for modernisation of the distribution system. The work would be re-tendered. The action was in view of complaints about award of the contract to a Korean company from several quarters, including the Leader of the Opposition. ‘‘I felt the issue needed to be examined seriously,'' he said. (Details on Page 11)
The Cabinet decided to form a directorate of environment and climate change under the Department of Environment in the State. He said the existing Environment Management Agency under the department would be converted into a directorate. The Cabinet had decided to appoint a district judge as inquiry commission to probe the police lathi-charge that had occurred in Kasaragod district. Coaches of Malayali sportspersons who had won medals in the 16th Asian Games would be given Rs.1 lakh each as a prize to encourage them. About 12 acre of excess land, originally set apart for public purposes in Azheekode village of Thrissur district, would be allocated for assignment to settlers and those affected by tsunami under the Tsunami Rehabilitation Project. About five acres at Chevayoor in Kozhikode district would be handed over for construction of an indoor stadium for the National Games.
