N Prasanth, who said he prefers to avoid public discussions on government matters, justified his post by citing the Right to Information (RTI) Act, claiming some details should be shared with the public
Published Nov 09, 2024 | 3:09 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 09, 2024 | 3:09 PM
N Prasanth IAS (Instagram)
Just days after a controversy erupted over an alleged religious WhatsApp group among IAS officers in Kerala, another storm has hit the state’s bureaucratic circles. This time, the issue revolves around a public Facebook post by N Prasanth IAS, Special Secretary for the Agriculture Department, which has sparked sharp reactions within the administration.
The post, seen as a direct dig at Additional Chief Secretary A Jayathilak IAS, has led to a flurry of comments and debates both within the bureaucracy and the public sphere. In the post, Prasanth appears to criticise Jayathilak’s role in a report that was allegedly critical of Prasanth’s tenure as the CEO of the Unnathi Society.
Prasanth’s Facebook post, which referenced Jayathilak as a “special reporter for a daily,” seemed to mock his senior colleague for allegedly preparing and submitting reports to the media. Prasanth accused Jayathilak of preparing critical reports against him and suggested that these would be immediately shared with a daily publication.
“I am compelled to inform the public about some facts they should know about ‘special reporter’ Dr. Jayathilak IAS, a senior officer who is preparing reports against me and will submit them to the daily immediately,” Prasanth wrote, signaling a highly unusual public rebuke within the ranks of the Kerala Civil Service.
While Prasanth stated that he generally prefers not to discuss internal government matters publicly, he justified his post by invoking the Right to Information (RTI) Act, claiming that certain details needed to be shared with the public. “I will post today and in the coming days when I get time,” he added, implying a future series of revelations.
He also encouraged others who are familiar with the issue to comment on his post to make the matter easier to address.
In a further escalation of the feud, Prasanth mockingly referred to Jayathilak’s ambitions within the state bureaucracy. “He has declared himself the next Chief Secretary, so those commenting will have to give that due respect,” Prasanth wrote, adding a sarcastic tone to his public critique.
The controversy took an even more personal turn when Prasanth, in the comments section of his post, made a pointed reference to the iconic Malayalam psychological thriller Manichithrathazhu, suggesting that Jayathilak was the “real lunatic in Madampalli”—a line from the film that is often used to describe a character with mental health issues.
The quote, which compares Jayathilak to a troubled character in the film, has amplified the tensions and sparked further discussion over the personal dynamics at play between the two senior officers.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
