Thiruvananthapuram: A section of staff owing allegiance to the Congress-led Secretariat Employees Association went on mass leave on Monday to protest against the government decision to form Kerala Administrative Service (KAS).
Association president Sreekumar claimed that 1,600 staff members took leave in various departments as a mark of protest. “We are holding a general body meeting on Tuesday to chalk out the next course of agitation,” he said.
However, official sources said the protest had no impact on the functioning of the secretariat. “There was no disruption of work. All departments functioned normally,” a senior official told DC.
The association has demanded that the entire matter related to KAS should be sent to Administrative Reforms Commission headed by former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan for detailed examination including its ramification on the existing employees.
“It is quite strange that the government rushed through the decision saying it has been taken in principle. They have not taken employees on board,” said Sreekumar.
During the discussion held with representatives of various staff associations last week, chief minister had said that the government would go ahead with the decision to implement KAS. The meet was called in the wake of apprehensions regarding KAS.
The government is of the view that KAS would improve the efficiency of the government machinery and also inject fresh blood into the administration.
While Left led associations have also opposed the decision on KAS, they have not resorted to any direct action against the government.
They believe that though the government had taken a decision still there were many avenues to discuss the matter and get the apprehensions allayed. The association is planning to raise the issues before the Rule Formulation Committee.
