The Kerala [Images] high court on Wednesday directed the deletion of the names of chief minister V S Achutanandan and SC-ST minister A K Balan from the list of respondents in a petition seeking a direction to change the portfolio of the SC-ST minister.

When the petition by the Federation of SC/ST state committee and M G Vanitha trust, Kochi, came up before a division bench comprising Justices J B Koshy and K Hema, the court said the names of Achutanandan and Balan should be deleted.

The case has been adjourned for hearing the government's views.

The petitioners had stated that a person who had 'genuine interest' in the welfare of the two communities should be appointed as the minister. They also sought a special audit to find the reasons for the lapse of crores of rupees every year for the welfare of the SC-ST department.