In a move underscoring its commitment to discipline within the ranks, the Kerala government suspended two senior IAS officers, K Gopalakrishnan and N Prasanth, over allegations of conduct violations.
According to official sources, K Gopalakrishnan, the Director of Industries and Commerce, was suspended for creating a religion-based WhatsApp group involving government officials. N Prasanth, popularly known as “Collector Bro” from his tenure as Kozhikode District Collector, faced suspension for publicly criticizing senior IAS officer A Jayathilak, Additional Chief Secretary, on social media.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ordered the suspensions following a report from the Chief Secretary, signaling a stern response to what he described as a breach of service rules.
Social Media Controversy
The disciplinary action against Prasanth stems from a Facebook post in which he accused Jayathilak of orchestrating negative media coverage against him. In his post, Prasanth alleged that Jayathilak had acted as a “special reporter” to disseminate unfounded allegations, asserting that the public deserved to know “important facts” about his senior colleague. Prasanth’s post was reportedly prompted by media reports alleging lapses under his tenure in “Unnathi,” a government initiative for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, where files were said to have gone missing.
Investigation into Religion-Based WhatsApp Group
The charges against Gopalakrishnan emerged after the Kerala police conducted a probe into his WhatsApp account, which was allegedly used to create a Hindu community group for government officials. While Gopalakrishnan claimed his account had been hacked, police found no conclusive evidence of a breach, noting that his phone had been reset, complicating the investigation.
Government Reaction
Revenue Minister K Rajan commented on the incident, emphasizing the importance of discipline among government officials and noting that any violation would face strict action. Without mentioning specific individuals, he highlighted the seriousness of the matter, asserting that officials must operate within the bounds of service rules.
The suspensions have sparked debate in the state, drawing public attention to the complexities of discipline, social media conduct, and religious sensitivity within the government ranks.
