Leader Satheesan said, courts can criticize but cannot belittle petitioners

Kochi: A day after the Kerala High Court asked whether Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V.D. Is the PIL filed by is correct? Satheesan was for “public interest or publicity interest”, the Congress leader said on Tuesday, adding that it was okay for the courts to criticize but not to “undermine” the petitioners.

Speaking to mediapersons in Kannur, Satheesan said he had approached the court demanding a CBI probe into the state government’s Kerala Fiber Optic Network (K-FON) project.

“How can this be for publicity? One gets publicity only by speaking at a public meeting or in the media, not when one approaches the court. Being a lawyer, I know what PIL and the Constitution are People believe that if they do not get justice from the government then they knock the doors of the judiciary.

“When I went to the court to seek justice, I was not criticized, rather I was humiliated. When people in responsible positions approach the courts for justice, if they will be humiliated, people will feel free from the system. “Confidence will be lost. We are keeping an eye on the proceedings.” “The court with great respect,” he said.

K-Fon, the pet project of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, promised free internet for two million homes besides 30,000 government offices. Launched in 2017 with a completion period of 18 months, it was to be carried out through a new optic fiber route built parallel to the electric power network of Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEB).

Satheesan alleged in his petition that the project and all contracts arising from it were divided among representatives of the people who controlled the government. He claimed that all the tenders involved in the project have been awarded to a single beneficiary company, which is closely linked to persons in power.