‘Hearing cannot be live streamed as it is confidential’; Government rejects N Prasanth's demand

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has rejected the demand of N Prasanth IAS to live stream the hearing. The government said the hearing is confidential as it is part of the disciplinary proceedings. The demand of N Prasanth, suspended on charges of insulting a senior officer and a colleague through new media, was to live stream and record the hearing. Chief Secretary Saradha Muraleedharan will hear Prashanth on April 16.

The hearing was demanded when the government was considering a department-level inquiry ahead of department-level action against Prasanth. Senior IAS officials said demanding live streaming of a personal hearing is an unusual step. The IAS service rules do not mention such things. Senior officials also pointed that although video recording is required as evidence, live streaming is unusual.

However, Prasanth's justification is that these matters were requested considering public interest. Prasanth had sent several letters to the chief secretary requesting to hear him in response to the notice. However, the government's stance is that all this is a request for an explanation and cannot be considered as a response.

The government informed that Prasanth should clarify whether he has committed a crime or not. The hearing is held next week as per the instructions of the chief minister. The chief minister's intervention comes amid a public war of words between top officials over the suspension. N Prasanth was suspended in last November.