Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has reissued the order posting Public Sector Restructuring and Internal Audit Board (RIAB) former secretary K. Padmakumar as managing director of Kerala State Rural Women's Electronic Industrial Cooperative Federation (RUTRONIX).
An additional condition that Mr. Padmakumar should join within 15 days of receipt of the order was also incorporated in the new order. The fresh order, dated August 9, was issued by Industries principal secretary K Ellan-goven, while the previous two orders appointing Padmakumar at RUTRO-NIX and cancelling it were issued by Industries (H) department joint secretary Vijayakumar R.
Sources said that the fresh order, that came out on Monday, could be an attempt to avoid legal tangles as the High Court had specifically directed the Industries principal secretary to give appointment to Padmakumar.
DC on Monday reported that the order issued on July 30 appointing Padamakumar at RUTRONIX was cancelled by issuing another order on August 3 without mentioning any reason. Both industries minister A.C. Moideen and Mr Ellangoven had told DC that they were unaware of cancelling the fresh posting.
There were allegations that a strong lobby was acting against Padmakumar as he had exposed the corruption at many public sector undertakings. His arrest by the Vigilance and subsequent suspension had also raised many eye brows.
Since the government had denied posting to Padmakumar at RIAB citing the court case, the employment of other RIAB employees mentioned in the petition may also hang in balance.
