Saji Cherian’s re-induction not normal, says Arif Mohammed Khan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has said the re-induction of CPM MLA Saji Cherian into the cabinet could not be considered as a “normal induction”. “He had to resign for lowering the dignity of the Constitution and hence I will have to examine first before taking a decision,” the governor said on his arrival at the state capital on Monday evening.
Under normal circumstances, the governor has to accept the request of the chief minister for the induction of a minister. But this is totally different. He is not being inducted for the first time. “I do not consider this a normal induction,” Khan said.
“He had to resign since he had lowered the dignity of the Constitution and even the chief minister could not accept his statement. I have not seen the paper which the government has sent to me. I will have to examine it first and then will take a decision. I have to look into the status of the case and whether he has been exonerated from the charges,” Khan added.
The governor also justified seeking legal opinion on the matter. “He is one of the senior-most advocates in the high court and is a legal adviser to the Raj Bhavan. It is a normal procedure that we seek legal advice from him on such circumstances,” he said.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the legal adviser has given an opinion to the governor that the swearing-in ceremony should be done only after collecting all the details on the case pending against Cherian. Since the court has not exonerated him from the charges, the governor can seek more clarification from the government, the legal adviser is learnt to have informed the governor.