Kerala: Thrissur ex-councillors fined Rs 750 each in 10-year-old case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 10-year-old case related to irregularities in the distribution of drinking water has come to haunt former members of Thrissur’s corporation council and their individual liability is Rs 753.4. LSGD (local self-government department) directed the director of urban affairs to levy Rs 753.4 each from the 47 councillors and remit it to the account of the corporation based on a vigilance report.
The issue pertains to the distribution of drinking water by the council between 2010 and 2012. After complaints of irregularities surfaced, the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau registered a case. A vigilance probe found that the corporation had sustained a loss of Rs 45,958 and the amount was to be recovered from the accused.
LSGD made the calculation and arrived at a figure of Rs 753.40 each from 47 members of the council, which also included the then mayor IP Paul. The council had a strength of 55 members and eight of them were exempted and the reason was no water was reportedly supplied in their wards.
The amount is nominal but the ‘accused’ are in no mood to pay the amount. “This is totally unheard of. We are seeking a legal opinion. All documents are being collected since the rules of procedure were not followed,” said Paul.
No matter how big the amount or the offence charged, once a demand notice is served, the liability could affect former members if they choose to contest in elections.
A candidate could be disqualified if he/she has arrears, of any kind, that he/she owes to the municipality up to and inclusive of the previous year in respect of which a bill or notice has been duly served on him/her or if he/she was found guilty of corruption by a competent authority under any law as per the Municipality Act.
Former standing committee chairman (health) CS Srinivasan, who is also an accused, is equally perplexed.
“This is a case where the contractor who supplied the water was not made the accused. Earlier, we had moved the HC to quash this case. I hadn’t even supplied water to my ward and I found myself an accused. It is not the case of Rs 750, it is a matter of wrong or right and we will fight it legally,” he said.