The Kerala bureaucracy is abuzz again over the suspension of IAS officer N Prasanth (IAS:2007:KL), with fresh reports questioning the 180-day extension of his suspension in May.
According to reports, RTI documents reveal that the Suspension Review Committee had initially recommended revoking Prasanth’s suspension after he gave a satisfactory explanation to the charges. The April 23 meeting was chaired by then Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan (IAS:1990:KL), with Bishwanath Sinha (IAS:1992:KL) and K R Jyothilal (IAS:1993:KL) as members.
However, after A Jayathilak (IAS:1991:KL) took over as Chief Secretary following Muraleedharan’s retirement, the committee reconvened and extended the suspension by six months. Since Prasanth’s allegations were directed at Jayathilak, the government replaced him on the panel with ACS Rajan Khobragade. But in a May 3 note, Jayathilak directed no replacement was needed and asked Sinha to form a two-member committee. The panel met on May 7 and extended the suspension.
Prasanth has challenged the process, saying it violated service rules, which require the senior-most ACS to chair in the Chief Secretary’s absence—not a reduced panel.
His initial suspension followed personal social media attacks on Jayathilak, accusing him of harassing subordinates and calling him “mentally ill” and a “psychopath.” The remarks came after Jayathilak submitted a report against Prasanth related to the Unnathi initiative under CM’s review.
Also Read: Kerala IAS officer N Prasanth’s suspension extended again
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