As expected, the Kerala government finally suspended the two IAS officers who kicked off a storm by using social media – Industries Director K Gopalakrishnan (IAS:2013:KL) and Special Secretary (Agriculture) N Prasanth (IAS:2007:KL) – from service. Departmental inquiries have been ordered against them.
The enquiry report, submitted by Chief secretary Sarada Muraleedharan (IAS:1990:KL), highlighted the potential breaches of All-India Service Conduct Rules, 1968 by the two leading the state government deciding to suspend these officers and initiate departmental inquiries against them.
Gopalakrishnan was suspended for creating WhatsApp groups on Diwali named Mallu Hindu Officers and Mallu Muslim Officers by adding several Hindu and Muslim IAS officers and later claiming that his phone was hacked to create these groups. He later filed a police complaint in the matter. The police took the custody of his phones which were later found to have been factory reset with data deleted. The phones had then been sent to the forensic lab.
Interestingly, both the WhatsApp authorities as well as the forensic wing of the state police reported that no evidence of Gopalkrishnan’s phones having been hacked was found. The forensic wing also said that since the IAS officer himself had reset the phones to factory setting no evidence of hacking could be retrieved. Police also claimed that the report of the internet service provider also contradicted Gopalkrishnan’s claims.
But the suspension order against Gopalkrishnan was issued as the government felt that he created the WhatsApp group with a purpose to
foment division and create disunity within the cadres of the All India Services in the state.
The action against Prasanth was also anticipated after he attacked Additional Chief Secretary A Jayathilak (IAS:1991:KL) through social media posts.
The chief secretary’s report also highlighted the ongoing feud between Jayathilak and Prasanth. Jayathilak is said to have reported on Peasant’s lapses and Prasanth took to social media posts to vent his ire against Jayathilak, accusing him of ruining the careers of subordinates for not following his dictates.
The government found Prasanth’s outburst as grave indiscipline saying such remarks have the potential of creating divisiveness and disaffection among the IAS officers in the state that can also affect service to the public. Now, officers will be appointed to inquire into both these matters on the basis of All-India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.
Also Read: WhatsApp group for Hindu IAS officers creates furore in Kerala
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