Kannan Gopinathan: This IAS officer’s resignation was not accepted for 6 years, missed contesting elections, made a big demand from PM Modi

News India Live, Digital Desk: These days there is a lot of commotion in the bureaucracy of the country regarding resignations. Recently, the resignation of 2023 batch IAS officer Rinku Singh Rahi of Uttar Pradesh cadre has created a stir in the administrative corridors. Rahi alleges that he was not being given any responsible post or meaningful work for a long time. But Rahi’s move has once again let the genie out of the bottle of an old and high-profile case, which has been buried in government files for the last six and a half years. This is the case of former 2012 batch IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan, whose resignation has not been accepted till date and due to this his political career is hanging in the balance even before it started. He had resigned on the Kashmir issue, the file is pending for 6 years. Kannan Gopinathan is the same flamboyant IAS officer who created a stir in August 2019 by suddenly resigning from his post citing the people of Kashmir as ‘not getting freedom of expression’. Had created a stir. But the surprising thing is that even after more than 6 years have passed, the government has not given the final approval to his resignation. According to government sources, the final recommendation for Gopinathan’s resignation has not yet reached the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which controls IAS officers. Technically his file is still making rounds of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Experts say that there is hardly any other example in administrative history of such a long delay in the resignation of an IAS. Kannan Gopinathan, whose dream of contesting elections was stuck in the entanglement of government rules, made a new beginning in his life and joined the Congress in October last year. He was considered a strong candidate of Congress from Palakkad seat in Kerala Assembly elections. But this is where Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 2014 came in his way. Under this rule, no serving government employee can join any political party nor contest elections. Since Gopinathan’s resignation has not yet been accepted on paper, technically he is still an employee of the Government of India. Due to this problem, he has become ineligible to contest the elections. Kannan Gopinathan’s anger burst on PM Modi, said – ‘This is a lazy government’. Frustrated with his resignation not being accepted and being deprived of contesting the elections, Kannan Gopinathan’s anger has now burst directly on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also holds the charge of the DoPT ministry. Gopinathan directly tagged PM Modi on social media and termed the entire process as ‘pure harassment’. He wrote in a harsh tone that no action has been taken on his file for the last six and a half years. Neither are they being paid salaries nor are they being relieved. Gopinathan vented his anger and wrote, “Preventing my right to resign and participate in the democratic process is a very shameful and petty act. Stop this petty act, and direct your lazy government to take immediate action on my resignation.” Now it remains to be seen whether after this strong attack by Gopinathan, the Central Government takes his resignation file forward or his political exile continues.