Vigilance judge recuses from palmolein import case

The Vigilance court judge, P K Haneefa, who had ordered an investigation into the role of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the 1992 Palmolein import case, on Saturday recused himself from the case. Mr Haneefa said there was “some personal attack” against him through the media for passing the order last month.

Announcing his decision while taking up the casesuo motu, Special Judge P K Haneefa said he had passed an order in the case on Aug. 8 with “clear judicious consciousness and due procedure demanded.”

“But, unfortunately there was some personal attack against me through the media. So, I do not think it is fair on my part to continue to hear the case further,” Mr Haneefa said.

Mr Haneefa said he had also requested the Kerala High court to take necessary steps to transfer the case to other courts. The case would stand posted to November 10, he said. The court had suo motuadvanced the case for Saturday.

Ruling UDF chief whip P C George had lodged a complaint against Haneefa with the President and Supreme Court Chief Justice and had also questioned his impartiality in the case. He had also alleged that the court’s only intention was to make Chandy an accused in the case.

The case pertains to import of 32,000 tonnes of palmolein from Malaysia allegedly causing a loss of Rs 2.32 crore to the state exchequer. Late Congress leader K Karunakaran was Chief Minister.

Our Kochi correspondent adds:

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that the accused had never petitioned against the Vigilance Judge P.K. Haneefa who recused himself from hearing the Palmolein case on Saturday.

Reacting to the decision taken by the vigilance judge here, Mr. Chandy said that he had never expressed any lack of confidence in the judge.

The Chief Minister pointed out that he had earlier made his stance clear on the Chief Whip P. C. George’s decision to petition the President and Chief Justice of India against the vigilance judge’s order to re-investigate his role in the Palmolein case.

V. R. Krishna Iyer, former Supreme Court judge, said that judges should not recuse themselves from hearing a case fearing allegations. They should be able to ensure justice, he said.

Pointing out that he was not aware of the reasons behind Mr. Haneefa’s decision to recuse himself from hearing the Palmolein case, Mr. Iyer said that “we all should give support to the judiciary”.