N. Rajendran reinstated as Kozhikode DMO

There is another twist in the saga related to the transfer of district medical officers (DMOs) in the Health department. With the Kerala High Court directing the department to maintain the status quo before the transfer order issued on December 9, N. Rajendran has again assumed charge as the DMO in Kozhikode.

The High Court Bench comprising Justices Kauser Edappagath and Basant Balaji in an order issued on December 27 said that the status quo could be continued for a month. This followed petitions filed by Dr. Rajendran and V. Jayasree, DMO, Thiruvananthapuram, and M. Piyush Namboodiripad, DMO, Kannur, questioning the transfer order. Seven officials, including them, were shifted to other places.

The petitioners had earlier challenged the procedure in the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT), which said that the claims of all the officials who were affected by the order could be heard in a month before going ahead with it. However, the department issued another order on December 24, asking them to join their new offices. The court observed that the department should not have issued such an order when a KAT directive was already in place. Posting the case for January 9, 2025, the court also said there was no hindrance to listening to the claims of all the officials, as directed by the KAT.

In Kozhikode, Asha Devi had taken charge as the DMO on December 10 based on the December 9 order. Later, Dr. Rajendran also assumed office on December 13 in view of the KAT order. Dr. Asha Devi had reportedly gone to the State capital for a meeting during the period and was on leave of absence thereafter. Though Dr. Asha also managed to get an order from the KAT in her favour and wanted to take charge on December 23, Dr. Rajendran refused to hand over the responsibilities. This created a peculiar situation as both of them sat opposite each other in the DMO’s chamber. On December 24, the Health department issued one more order, making the way for Dr. Asha to take charge again. In view of the High Court order, Dr. Rajendran assumed office on December 28.