Kochi: In a major setback for the Kerala government, the High Court today observed that the order issued by the Kannur district collector cancelling the appointment of Seva Bharathi as a relief agency is erroneous. The single bench had earlier quashed the collector’s order and today, the division bench stated the same.
The collector had taken action against Seva Bharathi not even conducting enquiry on the allegations. The court observed this as violation of natural justice.
During the time of floods Seva Bharathi was appointed as a relief agency and within a couple of days, the district collector cancelled the order.
The district collector of Kannur had quashed the order appointing Seva Bharathi as a relief agency on 24 May 2921. This action was due to the political pressure.
District collector had appointed Seva Bharathi on 22 May, considering the free service provided by its volunteers in pandemic period.
The leftist organisations had alleged that Seva Bharathi has a political tinge and following this, the collector cancelled the order which he himself had issued.
Seva Bharathi filed a petition in the High Court questioning the collector’s order cancellation. The court had observed that the collector failed to conduct an enquiry, no notice was given to the petitioner before the cancellation of the appointment. Justice N Nagaresh had also in his order stated that the petitioner was not granted an opportunity of hearing before passing the order.
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