Backdoor Appointment in O J Jenish’s Department; Appointment Made Before Interview

Kottayam: The UDF government has been accused of making an irregular appointment in the Archives Department for just nine days. A Congress worker was appointed as a temporary watchman at the Vaikom Satyagraha Gandhi Memorial Museum even before the scheduled interview for the post.

K B Jafeer, a Congress worker, had been working as a watchman at the museum until July 5. After his tenure ended, the Archives Department asked the Kottayam Employment Office to provide a new list of candidates. The office forwarded a list of six candidates to the department on July 7. Jafeer's name was not included in the list.

The department kept the list pending for a long period and eventually decided to conduct the interview on October 13.

However, in the meantime, Jafeer was appointed temporarily to the post of watchman on October 3. The appointment order was issued by N Prashanth, Special Secretary of the department.

The appointment of a Congress worker for only a few days has drawn criticism, with allegations of nepotism. The source also alleges that backdoor appointments have become common in various departments since the UDF government came to power.

The appointment of Shani, wife of KPCC secretary BRM Shafeer, as a research officer at C-MAT had also triggered controversy. She was appointed without applications even being invited for the post, according to the source.