THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Employment Cell-B of the Public Administration Department, which oversees the special recruitment of scheduled castes in government departments, has resumed functioning in the secretariat. Public Administration Department Secretary K R Jyothilal has issued a circular directing the Heads of Departments to report the vacant scheduled caste and scheduled tribe posts. Kerala Kaumudi had reported on April 29 that the decision to merge Cell-B with Cell-A would have serious consequences. Following which, the new circular has been issued.

The decision of Public Administration Secretary Sharada Muraleedharan to suspend the cell without considering Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Minister K Radhakrishnan's suggestion had caused great concern among the scheduled castes.

The decision to merge Cell-BA into Cell A was taken on the recommendation of a committee set up to scientifically regulate the workload of the Public Administration Department. The news was reported by Kerala Kaumudi on January 25. Following which, Minister K Radhakrishnan had directed to reconsider the decision.