Thiruvananthapuram | Uncertainty over who holds the post of Director of Health Services continued on Saturday as transferred officer Dr Reena KJ reported to the office for the second consecutive day following a stay on the transfer issued by the administrative tribunal.

The Health Department had transferred Reena, stating that her tenure had ended, and appointed Dr V Meenakshy as the new Director of Health Services (DHS).

The transfer came amid criticism from Health Minister K Muraleedharan over Reena's decision not to allot doctors for the Sabarimala pilgrimage season without consulting the government and over the alleged delay in informing him about a Nipah test result confirming infection in a Kozhikode native.

Reena challenged the transfer before the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) and secured a two-week stay on the order.

Following the tribunal's order, Reena had reached the DHS office on Friday but was unable to assume charge after Meenakshy declined to vacate the chair, citing the absence of directions from higher authorities.

On Saturday, Reena again reported for duty and told reporters that she was aware only of the tribunal's order and that it was for the department to implement it.

"I do not know whether there are any further procedures beyond the court order. The official responsible for implementing the order has to clarify that," she told reporters.

"I fully abide by the judicial system," Reena said.

She added that she was not insisting on occupying any particular chair in the office.

"I have even sat in the chairs of clerks and other officials. If I get a place to sit, I can complete several pending works," she said.

Reena said she did not intend to interfere in meetings being held in connection with the communicable disease situation in the state.

"This is a critical time for the Health Department. I intend that the department's work should continue smoothly and that I should not become an obstacle," she said.

She said the department's functioning depended on the contributions of all officials.

Reena also urged people to maintain hygiene and drink boiled water to prevent communicable diseases.

She said the DHS mainly coordinated various wings of the Health Department and that the work was currently being carried out by another officer.

"I will not interfere, claiming that it is my responsibility. The success of the department depends on coordination from the grassroots level to the minister. The system will continue even if I or someone else is not there," she said, adding that such disputes were not unprecedented in the department.

Rejecting allegations of delay in informing the minister about the Nipah test result, Reena said she had conveyed the information immediately after receiving it.

"I came to know about it at 6.24 pm and informed the minister as soon as I received the information. I also told him that I had come to know of it only then," she said.

She acknowledged that there could have been a communication gap in the system.

"The report was received by around 20 people, including officials in the minister's office," she said.

Reena said the responsibility of the DHS is to prevent disease outbreaks, while treatment and testing of patients fell under the Medical College system.

She noted that the Nipah test report had also been received by the Director of Medical Education, who coordinates medical colleges.

Reena said she had worked on the ground during the 2018 Nipah outbreak, the 2018 floods and the 2024 Wayanad landslide disaster and had never shirked her responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Muraleedharan said the government had sought legal opinion from the Advocate General on challenging the tribunal's stay order.

"Once the legal opinion is received, we will take the necessary steps," he said.

The minister said the developments had not affected the functioning of the Health Department.

"Incumbent DHS Dr Meenakshy is doing well. Meetings are being held on time and the department's operations are continuing without any disruption," he said.

Muraleedharan added that there were no administrative difficulties following the tribunal's order and that the department was functioning vigilantly at all levels, from the minister's office to the field staff.