IAS Officer Kannan Gopinathan Refuses to Join Duty Despite Notice

The Personnel Department of Daman and Diu had asked him to attend the office till his resignation is accepted.

In a letter to the Home Secretary on 21 August, Kannan Gopinathan had said that he wishes to be relieved from the Indian Administrative Service.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan, who had resigned last week as a protest against the denial of “freedom of expression” to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, has refused to resume duty despite being served with a notice.

Gopinathan, who was the secretary, power department of the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, submitted his resignation to the Home Ministry on 21 August.

The Personnel Department of Daman and Diu had asked him to attend office till it is accepted.

‘Firm on My Decision’

Speaking to The Indian Express, Gopinathan said, “I came home at Silvassa, late last night (Wednesday), and learnt about the notice put on the door. It is a procedural notice because what they are saying is during the intervening period (till the resignation is accepted), I should rejoin the duties.”

He added, “I have gone public with my opinion and I strongly remain firm on my decision. It might not be appropriate for me to join duties at same place during this intervening (processing) period.”

‘Attend Duties Till Decision Taken on Resignation’

As he was not present in Silvassa, the capital city of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, officials pasted a notice on the door of the room in a government guesthouse where he lived.

The notice, dated 27 August, has been signed by Gurpreet Singh, deputy secretary, personnel department of Daman and Diu.

Citing Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) rules, the notice said resignation by a government officer “becomes effective when it is accepted”.

“Therefore, you are hereby directed to continue attending to your assigned duties immediately, till a decision is taken on your resignation,” it said.

When contacted, Gopinathan told PTI that he was aware of the notice, but declined to comment further.

After resigning, the IAS officer had claimed he took the decision as he wanted to express his views against the “denial of freedom of expression” in Kashmir. His resignation, though, had made no mention of the Kashmir issue.

After tendering resignation, Gopinathan, who hails from Kottayam district of Kerala, had said to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution was the “right of elected government”, but in democracy people have the right to respond, too.

“After taking the decision on Kashmir, nearly 20 days have passed and even now, the people there are not allowed to react or respond to it and that is not acceptable in a democratic set-up. Personally, I could not accept it and continue in the service during such a time,” he had told PTI.

The 32-year-old officer had first come into limelight when he hid his identity and joined in relief work during the 2018 Kerala floods.

(With inputs from PTI, The Indian Express)