Under secretary suspended in Kerala over letter which aided KAAPA accused BJP councillor secure leave
A Kerala Administrative Service officer has been suspended for adding unauthorized notes to an official letter that helped a BJP councillor, currently imprisoned under the KAAPA act, secure leave. The Minister for Local Self Government stated that the officer violated protocol by altering a document that had already been rejected by higher authorities.
Why it matters
This incident highlights administrative lapses and potential political interference in bureaucratic processes regarding the treatment of incarcerated public officials.
The Local Self Government Department on Monday suspended Chithra P.Arunima, a Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) officer who is currently an under secretary in the department, over a letter which was used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Thiruvananthapuram Corporation administration to secure six months of leave to BJP councillor R. Sugathan, who was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) and is currently lodged at the high-security correctional facility at Viyyur Central Prison in Thrissur. Officials from Panchayat Minister K.M.Shaji's office confirmed to The Hindu the decision to suspend the officer. Mr.Shaji had told media persons on Sunday that it was unfortunate that a letter which went through his department had aided a “criminal” to secure leave. The under secretary, according to him, had added the additional lines which suggested that Mr.Sugathan can get a leave through voting in the council, in gross violation of rules.
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