Kollam, 30 June (H.S.):A complaint has been submitted to Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan seeking an investigation into the appointment and subsequent transfer of T.M. Arun, the son of former Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma, as a Junior Resource Person under the state government.
The complaint was filed by Kollam District Panchayat member Faizal Kulappadam, who alleged irregularities in both Arun's appointment and his transfer. He has urged the Chief Minister to order a detailed inquiry into the matter and examine whether due procedures were followed.
Reacting to the allegations, Arun dismissed the controversy as politically motivated. He said attempts to portray his appointment as irregular were driven solely by political considerations and maintained that he was fully qualified for the position. Arun said he holds an M.Tech degree and was selected on the basis of his educational qualifications.
However, Faizal questioned the transfer of a contractual employee, describing it as an unusual administrative decision. He alleged that the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, led by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had made several appointments involving relatives of political leaders over the past decade.
According to the complainant, many such contractual appointments carried monthly salaries exceeding ₹1 lakh despite, he alleged, providing little benefit to the public. He called for greater transparency in government recruitment and sought a comprehensive review of similar appointments made during the previous administration.
Arun was appointed as a Junior Resource Person in 2023. The position was created to assist District Development Commissioners, whose posts were established to coordinate and monitor major development projects across Kerala's districts. Junior Resource Persons were tasked with supporting the commissioners in project planning, implementation and coordination.
The complaint has once again brought the issue of transparency and alleged nepotism in government appointments into the spotlight. The state government has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
