Revenue under secy nudged out of Secretariat

Thiruvananthapuram: Indicating that it will not budge to the pressure from a section of the secretariat employees, the government has transferred the revenue department official who parted with the information regarding the illegal tree felling, under the RTI Act, to a post outside the secretariat.
The government transferred Salini O G, who was serving as under secretary in the revenue department, as the assistant director in higher secondary section in the directorate of general education. The move from the government comes at a time when the secretariat action council has launched a protest against the government seeking reinstatement of the cancelled “good service entry” for the official and the removal of principal secretary (revenue) A Jayathilak from the post.
With her transfer, the government has transferred all the officials who had strongly opposed the revenue department’s earlier decisions that had led to issuing the controversial order on October 24, last year, that was used by the law breakers to mow down large numbers of trees illegally.
Earlier, Jayathilak had issued an order on Thursday, cancelling the good service entry of Salini, citing that the integrity of the officer is doubtful. Interestingly, it was on April 1 this year, that another order was issued giving her a good service entry, citing that she “was an inspiration, the right guide and good superior officer for the assistants as a section officer.” After the revenue department’s files came out in the public under the RTI Act, she was also forced to avail leave for two months, reportedly after being admonished by the higher ups.
Earlier, the government had transferred additional secretaries Girija Kumari G and Bency J, from the revenue department. While Girija Kumari had written a strong note against issuing the order dated October 24, last year, Bency is the president of pro-UDF Kerala Secretariat Association (KSA) and also the convener of the secretariat action council which is protesting against Jayathilak.