In a significant move, the Kerala High Court has mandated the State government to make a definitive decision within two months regarding an application for prior permission under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. This application pertains to a corruption probe against P.P. Divya, who previously served as the president of the Kannur district panchayat.
The court’s order was a response to a petition filed by Muhammad Shammas, the vice president of the Kerala Students Union (KSU). Shammas’s petition alleged that the Vigilance probe into Divya’s conduct was being systematically obstructed and called for a more thorough and effective investigation.
Earlier, the court had sought clarification from the Vigilance department on the progress of the complaint. In its submission, the Vigilance confirmed that it had indeed requested government approval under Section 17(A) to advance the investigation but noted that the government had not yet responded to this crucial request.
Highlighting the unacceptable delay, the High Court instructed the government to issue its decision within the stipulated two-month timeframe. The court further stated that the petitioner retains the right to approach the court again for necessary action, should the government’s eventual stand on the matter warrant further judicial review.