With the request of the state government to grant the services of a sitting High Court judge to conduct an inquiry into the solar case being turned down by the High Court on expected lines and the Opposition LDF charging that no serious or earnest attempt was there for it, the state government is toying with the idea of approaching the High Court again.
Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan told Express that the government is keen to look into all options to ensure a free and fair inquiry into the solar issue.
‘’We don’t want to dismiss the Opposition demand. We’ll attempt all possible measures for getting the services of a sitting judge,’’ he said, adding that consultations will be held in the coming days.
Once a final decision is taken, the government will write to the High Court once again to grant the services of a sitting judge. If this turned down again, the next option will be to appoint a retired HC judge.
The government’s stand assumes significance since the LDF has locked horns on the terms of reference of the judicial probe.
Ensuring the services of a sitting High Court judge, or at least displaying an earnestness for it, is expected to tone down the Opposition standoff with the government on the issue.
Meanwhile, the LDF liaison committee meet slated here for Sunday is expected to finetune its stand on the sitting judge in the inquiry, as the scope of it has dimmed, even when remaining adamant that the Chief Minister’s office should be included in the probe. The meet is crucial since the terms of reference will form the basis of the LDF course on the issue, while there is lot of adverse opinion within the CPM.