THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has rescinded its recent order that appointed the Director of the Health Department as the president of the Kerala Nursing Council. P Ushadevi, the current president and a member of the Democratic Women’s Association state committee, has been reinstated. The decision to appoint the director came after the governing body’s term expired on September 24 but it faced backlash from the CPM.
The initial order was based on legal advice stating that existing council members could remain until a new governing body was elected, though the president and vice-president would not retain their powers. Complaints from CPM leaders, including members of the governing body, prompted a reconsideration of this decision.
The party intervened after concerns were raised about the health department's actions. Following discussions, the Health Minister sought further legal counsel, which confirmed that the president and vice-president could continue in their roles until a new body was elected. This led to the issuance of a new order reinstating Ushadevi.
Interestingly, the legal advice from the Law Department was initially divided. The Deputy Secretary advised the change in leadership, while the Law Secretary later advised against it, leading to confusion within the health department. Ultimately, mounting political pressure resulted in the reversal of the initial decision.