KAT stepping in and giving interim stay on transfer of K.J. Reena,Director of Health Services,is not small thing ah,especially when whole matter is happening around public health administration .
On June 18,tribunal issued interim stay on government’s transfer order which had shifted K.J . Reena to Regional Public Health Laboratory in Ernakulam . This happened after Reena herself filed petition questioning why she was transferred like this and whether proper process was even followed .
And honestly,the way this transfer story changed is what makes people raise eyebrows . Government first cited her leave of absence during critical epidemic period,but Reena said she had taken only brief leave of two-and-a-half days . After that,government came out with revised order where leave reference was removed.
That itself gives impression that matter was not handled smoothly . If reason was strong from beginning,why change order later? That question will naturally come.
Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has said Reena’s transfer happened because of lack of cooperation with government . But Reena is arguing that this is not just routine transfer and that administrative rules linked to transfer protocols were violated.
Few things standing out in this case:
- KAT issued interim stay on June 18 against transfer of K.J. Reena to Regional Public Health Laboratory in Ernakulam.
- Reena said she had taken only brief leave of two-and-a-half days,while government’s first order referred to leave during critical epidemic period.
- K. Muraleedharan hinted government may challenge tribunal’s decision in higher courts.
And tbh,this becomes bigger than just one officer’s posting . Reena has said her transfer was unjust and was a way of forcing her out of position connected to public health management in Kerala . That is serious allegation,not just normal service complaint.
She also pointed out that as per established protocols,transfer should have been signed by Additional Chief Secretary (Health) and not Joint Secretary . If that argument holds,then whole legitimacy of order becomes uncomfortable question for government side .
But government also seems in no mood to back down rn . With K. Muraleedharan indicating possible higher court move,this fight may continue beyond tribunal stage.
At same time,Kerala is not dealing with public health matters in relaxed environment only . During epidemic-related pressure,any confusion between top health officials and government can affect how system functions on ground.
So now one side is calling it lack of cooperation,and other side is calling it unjust transfer done without proper process . Somewhere between these two versions,real story is still sitting quietly…
