Thiruvananthapuram: The health department has suffered a major setback after the Kerala administrative tribunal (KAT) stayed the transfer of director of health services (DHS) Dr K J Reena. The order was issued by the Thiruvananthapuram bench of the tribunal on a petition filed by Dr Reena challenging her transfer.In her petition, Dr Reena argued that the transfer was carried out in violation of established rules and procedures. The tribunal’s intervention comes shortly after it had, earlier this month, put on hold the govt’s decision to transfer principals of govt medical colleges.The govt had initially stated in the transfer order that Dr Reena had applied for 15 days’ leave during a period marked by the spread of infectious diseases but the order was subsequently revised.Meanwhile, health minister K Muraleedharan claimed that the tribunal staying the transfer of DHS was not a setback to the govt.“There are higher courts above the administrative tribunal. There is high court and Supreme Court to file appeals. I want to make it clear that those who disobey the govt’s directions or try to sabotage govt programmes will not continue in positions of power as long as I’m the minister,’’ Muraleedharan told reporters in Thrissur.Asked whether staying of the transfer orders of the medical college principals earlier, and now the DHS, had created an impression that he was taking hasty decisions, Muraleedharan said, “I like to make quick decisions, when needed, that is my style. Such a style of taking quick decisions will continue in the future also.” Responding to a question, he said the govt is sympathetic to the cause of the nurses who are on agitation at the Jubilee Mission Medical College Hospital and Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, for three months. “We have placed some suggestions before the management to end the nurses’ strike. Our decision on those suggestions will be announced within a week,’’ he said.Earlier, the minister had defended the transfer, alleging that Dr Reena had taken certain actions that undermined the govt. He cited her decision to inform the Travancore Devaswom Board that doctors would not be deputed for duty at Sabarimala and her alleged failure to communicate a confirmed Nipah test result as reasons for the transfer. The minister had also stated that Dr Reena was not cooperating with the govt.
