HC backs 'brainless' woman IAS officer

It was a morale booster for the 'brainless' woman IAS officer in Kerala and an embarrassment for a legislator of the ruling CPM in the state when the Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed an alleged illegal construction at the well-known tourist destination Munnar in Idukki district.

CPM MLA S Rajendran recently insulted sub-collector Renu Raj for issuing a stop memo against the construction being initiated by the local panchayat. He made open comments that the young woman IAS officer lacked intelligence. The MLA also addressed her with disrespect.

The HC stay came on a private petition filed against the construction. The State Government also informed the HC that the construction was illegal. The sub-collector had even filed an affidavit in the High Court on the matter, in which she had also referred to the insulting remarks made by the MLA against her, it was reliably learnt.

Remark sparks row

The MLA's insulting remarks had triggered a row in the state. Kerala Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan and Idukki district collector Jeevan Babu had backed the sub-collector’s action. The Kerala Women's Commission had suo motu registered a case against the MLA in this connection.