Computer purchase: AG denies graft charges

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MAY 11. The Advocate General, Mr. M.K. Damodaran, has denied allegations of corruption in the purchase of computers for the automation of the Advocate General's office.

He told presspersons here today that it was Mr. T.M. Jacob, former Irrigation Minister and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader, who raised such ``reckless'' allegations against him. He alleged that Mr. Jacob was facing many corruption cases.

He alleged that Mr. Jacob had tried to influence him in a case which came up before the Supreme Court. It was to wreck vengeance for not obliging with Mr. Jacob that he had raised such allegations against him. In fact, he had received the Cabinet nod for going ahead with the computerisation programme, he said.

To a question, he said that his term would be co-terminus with the term of the Cabinet. He would relinquish his post as soon as the LDF Ministry bowed out of the office.

The computerisation programme had been sanctioned in 1994. However, there had been considerable delay in the implementation of the programme. The programme got cracking when he took over as Advocate General in 1996. The computer had been purchased after inviting tenders and following other procedures. The allegations were, therefore, politically motivated, Mr. Damodaran said.

To a question, he said that in the Periya tree felling issue, he had acted swiftly when he learnt that the felled trees had been taken away. He then asked the superintendent of police concerned to prevent the removal of the trees even though the contractor had a favourable high court order.

The automation had been completed at the cost of Rs. 24 lakhs. It was undertaken by the Infinite Software Resources. He claimed that the Advocate General's office was the best automated project completed in the State. Even though the system was complicated and huge volume of data to be fed, a dedicated team was able to handle the situation effectively to make this automation process a complete success.

By the case management module of the computer, the handling of cases had been made easy and efficient at various section offices. The system provided quick access to case details to law officers and more coordination between sections. The library could also be accessed through the computers. The financial transaction of the Advocate General' office were also done through the computers. The monitoring of cases of the State in the Supreme Court had also been made easy with the introduction of computers.

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Section  : Southern States
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