Latha Panicker appointed new IHRD administrative officer; Nandakumar  ousted over three-year-old Achu Oommen Cyberattack Case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Higher Education Department has dismissed Nandakumar Kolathappilly, an administrative officer with the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD), three years after he allegedly launched a cyberattack against Achu Oommen, daughter of the late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Following his termination, the government issued an order appointing former Additional Secretary Latha Panicker as the new administrative officer.

Nandakumar, a retired secretariat additional secretary and a prominent left-wing union activist, had been appointed to the IHRD post on a contract basis by the previous LDF government. The controversy dates back to 2023, when he published a defamatory Facebook post targeting Achu Oommen. Although the victim immediately lodged a formal complaint with the Director General of Police, the local authorities initially failed to take decisive action.

The Poojappura police eventually registered a case under minor provisions only after public outrage intensified over the administration's inaction. In the wake of the mounting legal pressure and public backlash, Nandakumar issued an unconditional apology on social media, expressing regret for his remarks shortly after the police complaint was filed. Despite his public apology, departmental scrutiny ultimately culminated in his dismissal from the government institution.