Notice issued to Union Home minister in lottery case

The notice was issued by a division bench comprising chief justice J Chelemeswar and justice P R Ramachandran Menon on a PIL by SivanKutty of nearby Eroor.

According to the petitioner, in some of the cases, Home minister's lawyer firm and his wife Nalini chidamabaram had appeared for promoters of other state lotteries.
Notice to chidamabaram would be served through the Lok Sabha speaker.

Notices were also issued to Central and state Governments, CBI, Director of bhutan lottery, and state of Sikkim.

Earlier, while admitting a petition by V D Sateeshan, Congress MLA, seeking the same plea, the bench had criticised the central government for not initiating any action on the basis of the letter sent on the issue by state chief minister. The bench observed that 'the ball is inthe court of the central government. The central government has to take action in this regard.

'The matter requires examination. An MLA of the ruling party in the central government had to approach the court for intervention in the matter', the bench observed.

When the senior counsel appearing for sikkim government disputed the maintainablity of the petition pointing that the vigilance report preferred by the petitioner was considered by the high court in 2006 judgement, bench observed that there is 'something more than vigilance report in the chief minister's letter'.

The state government reitereated that they have not sought dismissal of the petition, but stand for CBI investigation.

It was also contended by the government that public interest and reasons projected by the petitioner was 'not bonafide'.

Court said even though political interest is alleged by both the parties, following the allegations raised by the petitioner, the court has constitutional obligation  to enquire into the matter.

The petitions have been posted after two weeks.