Vigilance functional freedom: Govt files appeal in HC

Kochi: The State government Tuesday filed an appeal in the High Court against an order of a single judge directing it to examine general issues relating to provisional autonomy and functional freedom of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

In its appeal, government complained that without any pleadings, the single judge had deviated from the issues and passed directions.

In its order last month, the single judge had directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to file a report on its functional structure and requisite changes recommended to the state government in the matter of its provisional autonomy and organisational freedom.

Giving the direction, Justice Alexander Thomas had granted three weeks time to Kerala State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to file the report. The Judge had also appointed two lawyers as amicus curaie to assist the court in the matter.

Challenging these directions, Kerala government claimed the Vigilance manual has the force of law and the bench did not find any illegality in the constitution of the vigilance department.

The appeal was filed by the Home Secretary and others on behalf of the state government.

The single judge had issued the order while considering a petition seeking a direction to the Vigilance to submit the investigation report in the bar bribery case allegedly involving some ministers in the state cabinet.

The court had in the past expressed its displeasure over the functioning of the Vigilance.

The petition was filed by an NGO, All Kerala Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Protection council' of Palakkad.