The Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has issued orders suspending the State president of the KSEB Officers' Association (KSEBOA) following a protest organised on Tuesday against the suspension of a woman officer.
KSEBOA State president M.G. Suresh Kumar, who is an executive engineer at the KSEB, has been placed under suspension on charges of making ''false allegations and statements'' against the top KSEB management and the CMD and organising the protest in violation of Conduct Rules.
The Left-backed officers' association has strongly condemned the action against Mr. Suresh Kumar.
Protest
On Tuesday, the KSEBOA had staged a ‘satyagraha’ at Vydyuthi Bhavan, the KSEB headquarters at Pattom, ignoring a dies non order issued by Mr. Ashok. The ‘satyagraha’ was held in protest against the suspension of Jasmine Banu, an executive engineer, who was charged with staying away from work without applying for leave. The KSEBOA had termed the charges against Ms. Banu baseless and the management’s action unjustified.
Mr. Suresh Kumar's suspension is the latest development in an ongoing row between Mr. Ashok and the Left employees' unions in the State power utility. The employees' organisations have accused Mr. Ashok of adopting a confrontationist stance and vitiating the work environment in the KSEB.
The KSEBOA has indicated that it plans to step up its protests against Mr. Ashok, a 1998 batch IAS officer. Mr. Suresh Kumar said that he would contest the suspension. The KSEBOA termed the suspension the latest in a series of ''anti-democratic interventions'' by the KSEB management. Mr. Suresh Kumar's suspension would be tackled legally and at the organisational level even as efforts would continue to expose the flawed policies of the management, it said.
Minister calls for review
Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty has directed the KSEB management to review the dies non declared on April 5 in connection with the KSEBOA strike. Mr. Krishnankutty said that he would examine the management's decision to suspend KSEBOA State president M.G. Suresh Kumar once he reached Thiruvananthapuram on April 12. ''The management says he (Mr. Suresh Kumar) has flouted rules. He has denied it. I will examine it on April 12,'' Mr. Krishnankutty said.
