Senior IAS officer expresses 'regret' to Kerala HC

Kochi, Jun 10 (UNI) Senior IAS officer and Kerala Revenue Principal Secretary Nivedita P Haran today filed an affidavit in the High Court, expressing regret at the impression that she had violated the instructions of the Advocate General.

In her affidavit, Ms Haran said she had not violated the advocate general's instructions in the Thiruvananthapuram Golf Club takeover case. However, an impression had been created that she had violated the AG's instructions and she regretted that.

Ms Haran further stated that she had great respect for the high court and did not intend to violate any of its orders.

The senior IAS officer filed the affidavit following Justice S Sirijagan's oral observations in the court last week that she had not expressed any apology to the court while filing a review petition against the court's observation that her violation of the AG's instructions amounted to a negation of the Constitution.

The court, while allowing her plea to be exempted from personal appearance in the court on June 9, had pointed out that she had not expressed any regret for her actions.

In her review petition, Ms Haran had submitted that she had not received any written instructions from the advocate general or the government pleader concerned not to take over the Thiruvananthapuram Golf Club as the matter was slated to come up before the high court.

In the absence of any written instructions, she was duty-bound to carry out the directions of the Cabinet to take over the Golf Club, Ms Haran added.

Later, following directions from the court, the revenue department reverted the golf club to the club management.

UNI XR ARC SB CS1542