Intensifying its protest against Minister for Higher Education K.T. Jaleel, who is facing an allegation of nepotism in a key government appointment, the Muslim Youth League (MYL) is planning to appeal to Governor P. Sathasivam for the Minister’s removal from the Cabinet.
At a news conference on Saturday, MYL general secretary P.K. Firos said the Minister had appointed his cousin K.T. Athib to the post of general manager of the Kerala State Minority Development Finance Corporation (KSMDFC) flouting procedures. The appointee, he alleged, did not possess the educational qualification required for the post as per the government notification on June 29, 2013.
The government revised the educational qualification and based on a Cabinet decision, the revised notification was published on August 18, 2016. Though the government had invited applications and conducted an interview, Mr. Athib did not attend it in the wake of the resignation of Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan then, on charge of nepotism.
Direct appointment
Subsequently, Mr. Firos alleged, the Department of General Administration came out with an order on October 10, 2018, directly appointing Mr. Athib without inviting applications and conducting an interview. Normally only a government employee was appointed to this post on deputation. Mr. Athib was appointed without the approval of the director board of the KSMDFC, he said. The argument of the Minister that the new appointment was made as none of the candidates qualified in the previous interview was childish.
Probe sought
The Indian Union Muslim League has sought a probe against Dr. Jaleel. IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed said Dr. Jaleel had confessed to have appointed on deputation his cousin, who worked in a private bank, in the KSMDFC, a move that was against the Kerala Service Rules. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala too has called for an inquiry.
