Thiruvananthapuram: High drama continued over the post of director of health services (DHS) on Saturday even as health minister K Muraleedharan ruled out any crisis.
A confrontation arose at the health services directorate after former DHS Dr K J Reena arrived at the office armed with a Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) order favouring her reinstatement. However, the incumbent DHS, Dr Meenakshi V, refused to vacate the chair, maintaining that she would not relinquish charge without a specific order or direction from the govt. Her refusal led to a heated exchange between the two officers.
Reena arrived at the office again on Saturday but Meenakshi maintained that she would have to continue till she received an instruction from the govt.
Muraleedharan said that a decision on the DHS post would be taken after consulting all legal aspects with the advocate general.
Muraleedharan said: “There is no crisis or administrative deadlock. Dr Meenakshi who is in charge is handling the affairs very well. There is no obstruction to the working of the health services. From the minister to the staff at the lowest level, everybody is working and handling day-to-day activities.”
Meanwhile, routine work with regard to taking steps to handle fever and other diseases is going on. Meenakshi is said to have regulated leaves to ensure that adequate manpower to handle the fever situation. The monsoon has caused an increase in fever cases as more and more people are reaching the outpatient department of all hospitals with symptoms of fever.
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