Kerala Chief Secretary appears before HC in contempt case

Kochi, July 30 (UNI) Kerala Chief Secretary Lizzie Jacob today appeared before the High Court in a contempt of court petition in view of the state government's failure to complete work on the construction of a sewerage plant at Guruvayur.

Appearing in person before the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Mr Justice K T Sankaran, Ms Jacob filed an affidavit seeking 18 months' time to implement the court order dated January 30, 2004, on the construction of the sewerage plant.

In view of the chief secretary's submission, the court granted the government 18 months time to comply with the court order and closed the contempt petition filed against her by the Guruvayur Drainage Action Council General Convenor K G Sukumaran.

The action council had in 1997 filed a writ petition asking for a sewerage plant in Guruvayur. The High Court allowed the writ in 2004 with a direction to the authorities to set up the plant.

However, there was no action by the authorities to set up the plant and a contempt petition was filed in the court.

In an affidavit filed by the chief secretary in response to the contempt petition, it was stated that the work would be completed within one year.

Though the affidavit was filed in 2005, so far no action had been taken to complete the plant. Hence the council again filed the contempt of court petition.

UNI