Row over Kerala Speaker's purchase of spectacles at Rs 50,000

A day after Kerala Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac proposed spending curbs to turn around the state's bleak financial situation, Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan has found himself defending his purchase of a pair of spectacles at Rs 49,900.

Reports quoting from a communication by the Legislature Secretariat, received under RTI by Kochi-based lawyer D B Binu, said Sreeramakrishnan – the CPM MLA from Ponnani – spent Rs 45,000 on the lens and Rs 4,900 on the frame and had the amount reimbursed from the state exchequer.

The Speaker is also learnt to have availed reimbursement of about Rs 4.25 lakh on medical expenses incurred over a period of 15 months (October 5, 2016, to January 19, 2018).

Some of the CPM leaders have countered the controversy by calling it a non-issue over a medical prescription. The Speaker himself confirmed that the spectacles were purchased as a medical requirement.

"I've been experiencing difficulties with my sight while in the Assembly. The lens was bought according to specifications prescribed by a doctor," Sreeramakrishnan told reporters.

Last year, Health Minister K K Shylaja had also faced the Opposition's heat over her purchase of a pair of spectacles at Rs 28,000 which she later reimbursed.

Presenting the 2018-19 State Budget on Friday, Finance Minister Isaac had proposed measures to check expenditure, including restrictions on purchase of vehicles for government departments and travel expenses incurred by officials.