Thiruvananthapuram | Director of Health Services K J Reena, whose transfer was stayed by the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, was unable to assume charge on Friday as the official who had temporarily replaced her did not vacate the post.

Dramatic scenes unfolded at the Director of Health Services office in the morning when Reena arrived to assume charge after her transfer was stayed, but the official who had replaced her refused to vacate the chair.

Visuals aired by TV channels showed Reena seated on the opposite side of the desk and speaking to her replacement, while police personnel were present inside the office.

Reena was unable to occupy the director's chair despite remaining in the office throughout the day.

State Health Minister K Muraleedharan had said a day earlier that the state government would challenge the KAT order.

He had asserted that she would not be allowed to continue in the post of Director of Health Services.

Reena had been transferred and posted as Director of the Public Health Laboratory, with the state government maintaining that her tenure had ended.

Muraleedharan had earlier said that the action was taken over a series of decisions made by Reena as Director of Health Services, including a letter sent to the Travancore Devaswom Board stating that doctors would not be deputed for medical duties during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.