Appointment of BJP leader in health department; K Muraleedharan orders to terminate Ratheesh R Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister K Muraleedharan intervened after the act of appointing BJP leader in the health department stoked a controversy. The health minister directed to terminate BJP leader Ratheesh R Nair, who was superintendent in SIEMET coming under the health department.

He is a leader of BJP pensioners’ cell. There had been widespread protests over the reappointment of Ratheesh R Nair, who had retired from government service, in violation of the rules. The minister then took action following the controversy.

Muraleedharan told media that neither the minister nor the minister’s office was aware of his appointment. He said there is no doubt that Ratheesh is a BJP leader. The minister added that further action would be taken after examining the legal aspects.

Ratheesh was appointed as the senior superintendent of the College of Nursing in Konni, Pathanamthitta, under the health department, on September 15. The appointment was on a contract basis. The condition was that the contract could be extended if the government was interested, and his monthly salary was Rs 31,480.

Ratheesh had retired from government service recently. He was then a state committee member of the BJP Sangh, an organisation of BJP-affiliated government employees. He was appointed to the BJP’s Pensioners Cell for retired government employees on July 15.