Thrissur: In a major blow to the LDF government, Kerala High Court of Wednesday said that Health Minister KK Shailaja had misused her power in an appointment to the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

The court doubted the credibility of the appointment of a CPM member to the Commission.

The division bench made the observation while hearing a petition filed by the minister seeking a stay on the remarks against the appointment made by a single bench of the court the other day. The remarks were made while hearing a private petition challenging the appointment.

The petition should have been for reviewing the remarks and not stay them, the court said, adding the remarks of the single bench were mild.

The division bench said the very purpose of appointing members had been defeated by selecting a member with criminal antecedence. It asked how such a person could protect the interests of children.

The minister could not escape from the responsibility from the appointment, it added.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led United Democratic Front staged a boycott of the Assembly seeking the minister’s resignation. The House has been witnessing din over the issue for the last few days.