New ordinance to protect Oppn Leader, Chief Whip

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The Cabinet has decided to promulgate an ordinance to protect the Opposition Leader and the Chief Whip from the Office of Profit clause, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Wednesday.Such a protection is already available to ministers, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. The new legislation will extend the protection to the Opposition Leader and the Chief Whip as well, he said after the weekly Cabinet meeting here. The State Government had received two sets of advice in this regard. One, that no new legislation was required. But others had advised differently. So the government had taken the decision to be on the safer side, Chandy said. The ordinance will be introduced with retrospective effect, he said.The office of profit controversy erupted in the state after complaints were filed alleging that P C George, as Government Chief Whip, was holding an office of profit. The issue got a fresh twist after it was argued that the Opposition Leader too fell under its ambit.FAKE CURRENCY: The counterfeit currency case will be referred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) only after the State Government studied ‘all aspects of the case,’ Chandy said. DGP: ADGP S Pulikesi has been elevated to the rank of DGP, the Chief Minister said.