THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government issued an order withdrawing the suspension of Assistant Executive Engineer Jose H. John of the Nemom Zonal Office of the Municipal Corporation in the lightning inspection conducted by the Internal Vigilance Section of the Local Government Department. Jose had approached the Administrative Tribunal stating that the suspension was against the department. The Tribunal then ruled that the suspension was illegal. Due to this, the suspension was withdrawn without any objection from the government. Jose has been reinstated in the same post at the Nemom Zonal. The order also requires payment of salary during the period of suspension. The suspension alleged that Assistant Executive Engineer Jose H. John had given the approval of the plan to put up a 1400 square feet house at three cents in the zonal office limits instead of the Assistant Engineer. But the argument of the engineering department is that due to the workload of the assistant engineer, the applicant who submitted the plan was approved as per the law without giving any further waiting.

It is customary to do so in emergency situations. Apart from this, the internal vigilance of the local department found that the reference of the overseer was not in approving the plan. But the engineers also released the document that the plan was approved and signed by the supervisor.

On June 8, the Principal Director issued an order suspending the Assistant Executive Engineer under Kerala Service Rule 10. But according to rule 10, only the appointing authority can take action against the officers. Govt has general authority from Assistant Engineer in Group Three Category Four and above. The Tribunal also pointed out that the action of suspension of the Principal Director was illegal in that situation. After the judgment came, the government took legal advice and withdrew the suspension without going to appeal. Apart from Jose H. John, overseers PV Ginsi and CE Priya were also suspended that day. They have also approached the tribunal.