Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of a tragic case involving a government-aided school teacher who was denied her salary for 14 years, Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty on Tuesday issued a strong warning to officials in the Education Department.

The Minister made it clear that if such incidents recur, the government will be compelled to take strict disciplinary action, including dismissal of those responsible.

“The government will not tolerate negligence or delay in matters related to employee entitlements. This incident is unacceptable, and any repetition will invite the most serious consequences,” said Sivankutty, addressing the media.

His remarks come amid widespread public anger over the suicide of V T Shijo, whose wife, Lekha Raveendran, a teacher at St Joseph’s High School, Narayanamuzhi in Pathanamthitta district, had not received her salary or service benefits since her appointment in 2012, despite a favourable High Court order.

According to George Joseph, the school’s manager, all necessary documents to process Lekha's salary had been submitted to the District Education Office (DEO). Despite repeated follow-ups and a clear directive from the Kerala High Court, the concerned officials allegedly failed to act.

“The negligence of the officials not only violated a court order but also destroyed a family. Even the intervention of the Education Minister was ignored,” Joseph said.

In response to the incident and growing public outrage, three department officials were suspended on Monday following an internal review. However, Shijo’s family insists that suspensions alone are not enough.

They allege that the officials deliberately suppressed documents and defied a Division Bench order of the High Court. The family is now preparing to pursue further legal action.

“The system failed my son. We will return to the court to ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable. This must never happen to another family,” said Thyagarajan, Shijo’s father.

Lekha Raveendran’s appointment had initially been delayed due to a legal dispute brought by a former teacher who had resigned and later claimed rights to the same post. Though the High Court ultimately ruled in Lekha’s favour, her salary remained unpaid.

The required documents and court orders were reportedly submitted to the DEO in December 2024, but no action followed, causing immense emotional and financial distress for the family.