Outside view of the High Court complex in Kochi
The matter was adjourned to Nov 5. The court directed backward classes development department secretary Veena N Madhavan to file the affidavit within four weeks. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel referred to a govt order issued by the Telangana govt and stated that it had undertaken a comprehensive door-to-door household survey covering socio-economic, educational, employment, political and caste aspects. The survey was intended to plan and implement opportunities for the amelioration of Backward Classes, SC and ST citizens and other weaker sections. Accordingly, the bench asked the additional advocate general to examine the Telangana govt’s order and, if necessary, consider whether a similar order was required to implement the directions issued by the court.
A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar issued the order in a contempt case filed by the Minority Indians Planning and Vigilance Commission Trust alleging non-compliance with an earlier order in a petition relating to the inadequate representation of backward classes in two public services and the state govt’s failure to conduct a socio-economic survey in terms of the Kerala State Backward Classes Act.