Thrissur (Kerala) | Minister K Muraleedharan on Thursday said the state government would challenge the Kerala Administrative Tribunal's decision staying the transfer of Director of Health Services K J Reena.
He was responding to reporters after reports emerged that the tribunal had stayed the government's order transferring Reena from the post of director of health services.
Reena was transferred and posted as director of Public Health Laboratory, with the state government maintaining that her tenure as director of health services had ended.
Muraleedharan had earlier said 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.
Responding to a query on the Kerala Administrative Tribunal's decision, the minister said: "Such developments happen in government matters. There are higher courts. If a sessions court awards a death sentence, does it get implemented immediately? There are the High Court and the Supreme Court above it."
Indicating his differences with Reena, Muraleedharan asserted that she would not be allowed to continue in the post of director of health services.
"One thing is clear. Any official who does not obey the government will not remain in that post as long as K Muraleedharan is here," he said.
The minister also referred to the case involving former State Police Chief T P Senkumar, asking whether former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had resigned after a court ruled in Senkumar's favour following his removal from the post.
"This is not a setback. There are higher courts," he said.
Muraleedharan said he was known for making quick decisions.
"As long as I am in office, quick decisions will be taken whenever necessary. Those who create obstacles will not be allowed to continue in their posts," he said.
He added that the government's stand on Reena's actions would be explained before the higher courts.
Referring to the Enforcement Directorate's searches at private hospitals in connection with a probe into forged documents allegedly used by a racket facilitating illegal organ donations, the Minister said the investigation should proceed.
"Let the raids continue. Once we receive the report, strict action will be taken," he said.
Regarding the ongoing protest by nurses demanding a wage hike, Muraleedharan said the issue was being considered by the government.
"We have placed certain proposals before private hospital managements. A decision will be taken within a month," he said.
Thiruvananthapuram | Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that as the state reeled under rising cases of communicable diseases, there was a delay on the part of the government to appoint doctors who are in the PSC rank list.
Vijayan, at a press conference here, alleged that around 400 doctors who were in the public service commission (PSC) rank lists had received the advice memo in May itself, but have not been appointed to the vacant posts to date.
He claimed that there had never been such a delay in appointment in the past and alleged that it was due to extraneous reasons, including political interests, and demanded that immediate steps be taken to carry out the postings.
"The public health sector of Kerala is facing a great challenge currently due to the increase in communicable diseases like Shigella, Nipah, dengue, cholera, West Nile, amoebic meningoencephalitis, etc.," Vijayan said.
"Day-by-day, there is an increase in the number of people being infected, and the number of deaths is also rising," the Marxist veteran said.
He also alleged that there was a failure in the coordination of disease prevention activities and a lack of vigilance.
Besides these, essential medicines were also not available, he alleged.
Vijayan further alleged that the new government was taking steps which would harm various welfare schemes, like the women's security project and monthly stipend initiative for the youth, of the previous administration.
He claimed that many such schemes have been put on hold by the new government and termed them "unacceptable".
Vijayan, in his press conference, also urged the government to take steps to avoid electricity restrictions at a time when the people of the state were keenly watching the FIFA World Cup 2026.
