Chandy Oommen, Congress MLA and son of the late Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, has stirred a conversation after his name appeared in the updated list of advocates empanelled with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The list, issued by NHAI’s Kerala office on September 7, includes lawyers tasked with handling legal matters related to land acquisition, arbitration, and court proceedings.
While the inclusion of Oommen’s name caught attention due to his prominent political background, the Congress legislator was quick to clarify the situation. Oommen explained that his initial empanelment occurred in 2022, well before his election as MLA from Puthuppally in September 2023. The latest list, he emphasized, is simply a renewal of his previous appointment, not a fresh one.
Oommen stated, “I applied for the position two years ago before I became an MLA. For the last seven months, I haven’t handled any files for NHAI.”
Questions have been raised regarding his decision to remain on the NHAI panel given his new political role. Oommen firmly responded that the NHAI has already begun the process of removing his name from the list, but stressed that there was nothing improper about his initial application. He also pointed out that the list contains advocates affiliated with various political parties, not just his own.
Oommen remains steadfast in his position, asserting that the cancellation of his name from the panel only reinforces that his actions were professional and ethical. “It’s clear that I’ve done nothing wrong or unethical. My political stance has not changed, regardless of whether I’m on the panel or not,” he remarked.
No official comment from the Union Government has been made regarding the cancellation of the advocate panel list, leaving Oommen’s removal as a professional decision free from any political influence, according to his statements.
