N Prasanth gets an off the record' warning

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Kozhikode district collector N Prasanth, popularly known as 'collector bro,' has been warned by the government for 'not showing courtesy and consideration' to  Mr M.K. Ragahvan MP. However, the government has shown leniency towards him and initiated only a 'non-recordable warning' so that it would not reflect on his service records and would not affect his future career. Mr. Prasanth was recently posted as higher secondary education director. The feud between Mr. Prasanth and Congress MP Mr. Raghavan had hit the headlines last year with Mr. Prasanth posting a map of Kunnamkulam town on his social media account after the MP demanded an apology from him.

'Map' in Malayalam means apology and hence Mr. Prasanth's action was considered as a response to the MP's demand for apology. Mr. Prasanth was shifted from the collector’s post in February as part of the disciplinary action based on a complaint given by Mr. Raghavan.  Mr Prasanth, in his explanation, denied the allegations, including  spreading baseless charges  through the social media and public relations department that the MP had threatened him and persuaded him to pass bills. It was also alleged that he had closed the  MP' local area development schemes’ facilitation centre.

According to an order issued by Chief Secretary Nalini Netto on April 20, "there was lapse on the part of Mr. Prasanth in showing courtesy and consideration to the MP. He should have been careful to see that his opinion through the social media would not figure as a criticism on  the functioning of the MP. However, taking a lenient view the government have decided to drop further action in the matter by issuing a non-recordable warning to be circumspect in such matter in future." Sources said that the government took a lenient view as Mr Prasanth is a young officer and has a long service left.