HC expunges adverse remarks against minister Shailaja

Kochi: The High Court Thursday expunged adverse observations made by a judge against state Health Minister K K Shailaja in connection with the appointment of members to the state child rights panel.

Allowing a plea by the state government, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Navniti Prasad Singh expunged the remarks made by the single-judge bench recently.

The judge had made scathing observations against the minister while quashing the appointment of members to the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

In its petition, the government argued that the single- judge bench made adverse observations against the minister without hearing her views.

Citing the judges observations, the opposition Congress-led UDF has been demanding the resignation of Shailaja.

The government, however, has rejected the demand.