KOCHI: The 'musical chair game' at the Kozhikode DMO office has not ended yet. The High Court directed Dr Rajendran to be reinstated as DMO. The court also stated that the stay of the State Administrative Tribunal will remain. The case will be considered on the ninth of next month. It is proposed to continue the stay till January 9.

Three people, including Dr Rajendran, had approached the court against the transfer. The court order applies to them also. Dr Asha Devi left the office after the court order. Asha Devi had taken charge as the Kozhikode DMO after the government issued a new order on Wednesday. Dr. N. Rajendran, who was DMO, was directed by the health department to join the Thiruvananthapuram health department directorate as an additional director. The health department had also decided to proceed with the transfer order issued on December 9th as it is.

Dr Asha Devi, who reached the office on Monday morning, sat in the DMO's cabin facing Dr Rajendran. The same situation continued till 4:30 pm. The order was issued by the health department following this. The order of the health department stated that the tribunal did not stay the transfer order of the health department and that a new transfer order should be issued within one month after hearing the complainants. The order also states that failure to comply with the transfer order will be dealt with seriously.

The problem arose following the transfer order issued by the health department on December 9th. An order was issued by transferring Dr. Rajendran who was in the position of Kozhikode DMO as Additional Director in the Directorate of Health Department and Dr. Asha Devi who was Ernakulam DMO as Kozhikode DMO. Dr Asha Devi took charge as DMO on December 10. Dr. Rajendran left on the same day. On December 12, Dr Rajendran got a stay on the transfer order from the Administrative Tribunal and returned to Kozhikode as DMO.

After the Administrative Tribunal lifted the stay, Dr Asha Devi returned to the office to take charge on Monday, but Dr Rajendran refused to move from the seat. With this, both of them stayed in the same cabin for three hours. Asha Devi later came out of the cabin but she clarified that she would proceed as per the government order. Rajendran maintained that he was the DMO under the law and Asha Devi said that the verdict was in her favour. Both of them were together in the cabin the next day. The health department issued a new order after the 'musical chair game' continued. The High Court directive has come in the meantime.