State cabinet on Thursday night decided to exempt the government officials allegedly involved in the palmolein case with the approval of the court. Briefing the Cabinet decisions to mediapersons on Thursday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said actually it was a decision taken by the previous UDF government under him during the 2005-06 period and the Cabinet has only decided to implement that decision.
He pointed out that it was a case which has been pending for the last two decades and the officials mainly belonging to the all-India services had suffered a lot of difficulties and it had affected their career prospects. The officials include Jiji Thompson, Director, Sports Authority of India. P J Thomas involved in the case who was appointed as Central Vigilance Commissioner had also been forced to step down as he had not been absolved in the case.
The Cabinet approved the proposal for granting autonomous status to selected colleges. Chandy said these colleges would get academic freedom. However, he clarified that it would not affect the existing service and salary conditions of the employees.
He pointed out that certain sections of employees had raised apprehension about the the government’s decision. However, he clarified that the government would not incur any financial cost for the self-financing courses being started in such autonomous colleges.
He said Cabinet had sanctioned `155.89 crore for the repair works of Sabarimala roads. The CM said that the government would allot `34 crore for a corpus fund for providing pension to the Regional Cancer Centre employees who have joined service up to March 31.
The government allotted 48 cents of land for Adoor municipality to construct the Town hall. The Baby John Foundation will be given 10 cents of land at Vanchiyoor near Vikas Bhavan. A total of 10 acres of land will given to CAPE for the Engineering college at Vadakkancherry.
Justice (retd) Chandrasekharadas will be appointed as commission to conduct a study about the increase in the road accidents. Paddy will be procured at `18 per kg. The family members of 14 people who died in the Perinthalmanna road accident last week will be given an assistance of `3 lakh each. The injured will also be given assistance beside the treatment cost based on the gravity of their injury. Other decisions include setting up a magistrate court at Nilambur and regularisation of 4 part-time contingency staff of Energy Management Centre.