Posting of Deputy Secretary at Delhi Kerala House instead of Thiruvananthapuram; retaliation for favourable verdict from  Administrative Tribunal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An officer from the Secretariat was transferred to Delhi as part of her promotion, allegedly violating norms. S Sushma Bhai, Under Secretary, General Administration Department, who was working as Manager Projects in NORKA ROOTS, has been promoted to Deputy Secretary and posted as NORKA Development Officer at Delhi Kerala House on deputation.

According to the 2022 order, the consent of the secretariat staff should be obtained if they are to be posted outside the capital district. The opposition service organization has alleged that Sushma, who was promoted recently, was appointed outside the state without obtaining such consent from her.

The complaint alleges that the transfer of Sushma Bhai was done in retaliation for the favourable verdict received from the Administrative Tribunal against the withholding of Sushma Bhai's promotion. It is also alleged that the CR submitted to Tinku Biswal, Principal Secretary of the Fisheries Department, in February 2022, was withheld for two years. The administrative tribunal ordered the immediate promotion of Sushma in a case filed against the denial of her promotion. It is alleged that the action is part of the move to promote the officer who was in the Chief Minister's office during the first Pinarayi government and who was the Under Secretary of the Home Department.

Kerala Secretariat Association President Irshad MS and General Secretary Purushothaman KP demanded that the officer be appointed in the Secretariat.