THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday ruled out any irregularity in the appointment of P C George as Government Chief Whip with Cabinet rank.After the weekly Cabinet meeting, Chandy told reporters that the same principle by which George was appointed Whip with Cabinet rank was applicable to the Opposition Leader also. “It is a pattern that has existed in the state. It is also permitted under a law passed by the State Assembly allowing the benefits to the Chief Whip and the Opposition Leader,’’ he said. The State Government has also clarified to the Governor that the complaint against George lacked substance, Chandy said. The issue had come to the fore after Sebastian Paul lodged a complaint with theGovernor against George enjoying the benefits of Chief Whip while holding Cabinet rank. This falls within the ambit of Office of profit, Sebastian Paul had argued. Chandy deftly evaded questions on whether George, who complained to President Pratibha Patil against Special Vigilance Judge in the palmolein case, should resign. “I am not the person to reply to that question,’’ Chandy said. Chandy said that no public servant should object to such an investigation and his reaction to the Judge’s order was testimony to that. “If I had any objection to the order, I would have filed an appeal,’’ he said.SANTHOSH MADHAVAN’S LETTER The Chief Minister said that he had received a complaint from Santhosh Madhavan against V S Achuthanandan’s son V A Arun Kumar. He received the letter when he was still handling the Vigilance portfolio and had subjected the letter to an examination to ascertain its credibility.
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