‘Directive to work during suspension period’; Left leader files petition against Kerala House RC

New Delhi: A petition has been filed against the directive issued by Delhi Kerala House Resident Commissioner Puneet Kumar requiring an employee to report to the office daily and sign attendance even during his suspension period.

The petition was submitted by A. Jayaprakash, Assistant Liaison Officer at Kerala House and Delhi convenor of the Kerala Secretariat Employees Association.

The plea has been filed before the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. Jayaprakash was suspended on the charge of being absent from duty for seven days without authorisation. However, in his petition, he has argued that he had applied for casual leave for the period, which was rejected without assigning any reason.

He has further stated that he had to travel to Kerala due to unavoidable personal circumstances, including his father’s cancer-related health issues, his own medical treatment, and his wife’s job-related matters.

He claims there was no alternative but to take a week’s leave to visit home. He also submitted that he had responded to the show-cause notice issued by the Resident Commissioner.

Meanwhile, tensions between the Resident Commissioner and Left-affiliated employee unions continue to escalate.

According to employees’ unions, there has been a long-standing conflict between Puneet Kumar and staff organisations at Kerala House. The Kerala Secretariat Employees Association and the NGO Union have earlier complained to the Chief Minister against him.

The unions allege that employees are being denied eligible leave and subjected to mental harassment. They also claim that even leave requests for travelling home during Ramadan holidays were rejected by the Resident Commissioner.

Employees further allege that favourable decisions for Puneet Kumar were taken at higher levels due to the backing of a senior official in the Secretariat.

Union leaders further claim that the current disciplinary actions are politically motivated amid expectations of a change in government in Kerala. They believe the dispute between the Resident Commissioner and Left unions at Kerala House is likely to intensify after the results of the Assembly elections.