Additional Chief Secretary offers to quit, Kerala government in quandary

The tough stance of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan may have forced Kerala's IAS officers to call off a mass strike, which they had planned on Monday, but it seems the top babus are not ready to fall in line without causing further embarrassment to the government.
 

Additional Chief Secretary Paul Antony wrote Chief Secretary seeking clarification on whether he should continue in his post after Vigilance named him accused in nepotism row that forced former Industries Minister E P Jayarajan to quit. 
 

However, his proposal was rejected saying the government has not taken any decision about removing his from the post. 

 

"Being named as accused in a vigilance case does not mean that the man has committed any crime and must resign," Industries Minister A C Moideen said.
 

"The letter had not come to my table. I have not received any complaints against him. The government will take action only in cases where wrong is proved," he said. 
 

Paul Antony was the Industries and Commerce Secretary at the time of the appointment of Sudheer Nambiar, the nephew of the then Industries Minister Jayarajan, as the Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE) Limited. However, it is known that Antony had mentioned in the file that appointment shall be made only if all eligibility norms are met and must be as per standard legal procedures. 

 

Vigilance filed FIR with E P Jayarajan as the first, Sudheer second and Antony the third accused. 
 

The current move is part of an ongoing tiff between state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau and IAS officers. The babus have accused Vigilance Chief Jacob Thomas of targeting them. Trouble began after Vigilance Department conducted searches at the houses of Tom Jose and K M Abraham, two senior officials, in October 2016, in connection with the nepotism row. Thomas, On January 5, questioned Additional Chief Secretary Tom Jose in connection with amassment of disproportionate assets. On January 6, he said Antony is named accused in the nepotism row. 
 

Following day senior IAS offcials held a meeting at Kerala IAS Officers Association at Thiruvananthapuram and decided to go on a mass strike on Monday, which is unprecedented in the history of Indian Civil Service. The move, which would have been a blow on the face of Left Democratic Government (LDF), was called off after Chief Minister said he is willing to take their explanation that protest is against Vigilance Chief and not the government. He also criticised officers for bringing discredit to the government and warned that government would not tolerate such moves. 
 

• Nepotism row
• Paul Antony
• Kerala Government
• corruption
• IAS protest in Kerala
• Pinarayi Vijayan