Kerala High Court refuses to stay Tribunal order; clash over Health Director post escalates as verdict awaited tomorrow

KOCHI: In a continuous setback for the state government regarding the abrupt transfer of the Director of Health Services, the Kerala High Court declined to grant an interim stay on the Administrative Tribunal's order in favour of Dr K.J. Reena. The High Court is scheduled to deliver its final verdict on the government's appeal tomorrow. Both the state government and Dr. Reena have indicated that their subsequent course of action will depend entirely on the high court's ruling.

The legal battle has triggered an unprecedented bureaucratic standoff within the health department. Despite arriving at her office over the last two days armed with the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) order allowing her to continue in the post, Dr Reena has been unable to officially resume her duties. Dr. V. Meenakshi, who currently holds temporary charge of the directorate, has refused to vacate the chair, maintaining that she will only step down upon receiving explicit instructions from the government.

The controversy has also sparked a sharp exchange of allegations between the aggrieved official and the political leadership. Dr. Reena contended that her transfer was a punitive, unlawful measure carried out in blatant violation of established service rules, adding that false allegations regarding unauthorised leave were manufactured to humiliate her publicly. Defending the government's decision, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan stated that the administrative action became necessary because Dr. Reena was functioning in a manner that undermined the system.