The Local Self Government Department (LSGD) has ordered the suspension period of a health inspector with the Kozhikode Corporation be considered as on duty and the salary for this period to be credited in his name.
P. Subramanian, a health supervisor, was given the extra charge of the health officer for 10 days during the last corporation’s tenure. The officer had gone on leave at that time. It was alleged that during this 10 days period, Mr. Subramanian had delayed the issuance of birth-death certificates and the Dangerous & Offensive (D & O) license for shopkeepers.
He was suspended on June 5, 2010 by an order of the then Corporation Mayor. Though he was reinstated a few months later following an inquiry, he was not fully acquitted.
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Mr. Subramanian went on a series of appeals over the next two years against his suspension.
As per the latest order from the LSGD following many levels of inquiries, ‘no individual complained against the delay in issuing of birth-death certificate. Since he was in charge only for a period of ten days, the maximum delay that he could have caused was ten days. There is only a single post for health supervisor in the Kozhikode Corporation. The additional burden of the health officer’s charge could have caused the delay’.
The order goes on to say that ‘considering the general delays in all local bodies, this case does not have enough grounds to give a six month long suspension’.
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Significantly none among the health officer, the standing committee on health or the corporation secretary recommended any action against him. The decision came directly from the former Mayor.