Suspended IAS officer N. Prasanth (file)
The Kerala government has indicted N. Prasanth, a suspended IAS officer, for “undermining the administrative machinery and tarnishing the government’s reputation.”
In a damning charge memo, Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan stated that Mr. Prasanth’s actions had caused “irreparable injury” to the government.
Ms. Muraleedharan said Mr. Prasanth’s combative social media posts and accusatory interactions with the media had a “deleterious effect” on the administration and “cast shadows of doubt” on the civil service.
The Chief Secretary found Mr. Prasanth prima facie guilty of public vilification (of colleagues), irresponsible behaviour unbecoming of an officer, scant regard for the service’s cohesion, grave indiscipline, insubordination, and violation of high ethical standards, integrity, honesty, accountability, good behaviour, and courtesy.
Rules violation
Ms. Muraleedharan also accused Mr. Prasanth of repeatedly using the press and social media to vindicate the latter’s actions, which violated the provisions of the All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968.
She also accused Mr. Prasanth of derogatory comments and “indirect statements” about A. Jayathilak, Additional Chief Secretary for Taxes, and K. Gopalakrishnan, another suspended IAS officer.
Ms. Muraleedharan was also critical of Mr. Prasanth’s “accusation” in the media that Mr. Jayathilak had “fabricated” a report regarding his “absence” from office and that the Additional Chief Secretary had propagated a “false narrative” against the suspended officer in a Malayalam daily.
Ms. Muraleedharan also took strong exception to Mr. Prasanth’s alleged reference to Mr. Jayathilak as a “psychopath”. She concluded that Mr. Prasanth learned little from the latter’s suspension from service and continued to “mislead” the public to garner publicity.
Mr. Prasanth was yet to tender his reply to the charge memo.
Published – December 09, 2024 12:43 pm IST
