The Kerala government is envisaging a Real Estate Regulatory Authority with a retired bureaucrat at its top, who is embroiled in many controversies, including his order to regularise a reclaimed paddy field in Kochi.
Two persons have already been shortlisted and interviewed. Highly placed sources said that the retired top officials name was doing the rounds and most likely that he would be chosen by the government.
The sources said that the decision was being taken at the chief minister’s level and the revenue minister was only kept in the dark over this. They said that the revenue minister has certain reservations over the appointment of this official. They said that the top bureaucrat who is vying for the post is in the good books of the office of the chief minister, the sources said.
They said that it was quite a paradox that an official who is surrounded by controversies is being chosen as chairman of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority. Several orders issued during his last days in office have now become controversial. The last one that has come out is the regularisation of the reclamation of a paddy field in Kunnathunadu in Kochi. It is alleged that the orders have been issued at his behest only.Adding more to the controversies is that he is alleged to be acting as a middle man between the plantation owners and the government after his retirement. Some even allege that this official was acting as a liaison officer for the plantations. It was only recently a secret meeting was held between government officials and a plantation major in the capital city and it is alleged that this official was behind arranging the meeting.
