Just days after a controversy over an alleged religious WhatsApp group among IAS officers in Kerala, another storm has hit the state’s bureaucracy. Only this time, the issue centres around a Facebook post by IAS N. Prasanth (2007 batch), the incumbent Special Secretary for the Agriculture Department, sparking off sharp reactions both within the administration and in the public.
The post, widely seen as a dig at Additional Chief Secretary Dr. A. Jayathilak (1991-batch IAS officer), criticizes his involvement in a report allegedly critical of Mr. Prasanth’s tenure as CEO of the Unnathi Society. Officer Prasanth referred to IAS Jayathilak as a “special reporter for a daily,” mocking his senior colleague for allegedly preparing and leaking reports to the media. Mr. Prasanth claimed Dr. Jayathilak was ready to submit these reports to a daily publication.
“I’m compelled to inform the public about some facts they should know about ‘special reporter’ Dr. Jayathilak IAS, a senior officer preparing reports against me to submit to the daily immediately,” Mr. Prasanth wrote, marking an unusual public rebuke within Kerala’s civil service.
Although Officer Prasanth typically avoids airing internal matters publicly, he justified his post by invoking the Right to Information (RTI) Act, saying certain details needed to be shared. “I will continue posting in the coming days when I get time,” he added, hinting at further revelations.
Mr. Prasanth also mocked Dr. Jayathilak’s bureaucratic ambitions, writing, “He has declared himself the next Chief Secretary, so those commenting should give him due respect.”
The controversy grew more personal when Mr. Prasanth, in the comments section, referenced the Malayalam film Manichithrathazhu, suggesting that Jayathilak was the “real lunatic in Madampalli”—a line often used to describe a troubled character in the film. This comparison has only intensified tensions between the two senior officers.
