Trivandrum

(Staff reporter)

4th of Midhunam (mid-June)

Puisne Judge Mr. Govinda Pilla has been granted permission by the government to extend his tenure for an additional year in the High Court.

Despite not passing the minor technical examination known as the "Overseer’s Test," Mr. Shankara Pillai was appointed as Assistant Supervisor of maintenance repairs in the fort a few months ago due to his close friendship with the royal servant Sankaran Thambi. He was promoted from his previous job as a clerk. Subsequently, he was elevated to the position of Supervisor, which was previously held by Mr. Panicker, who successfully passed the supervisor's test. As of the 1st of this month, Mr. Panicker has been appointed as Sirasthadar (Superintendent), with a salary of 70 rupees, 2 rupees as a travel allowance, and a scale of up to 10 rupees per year. As Assistant Engineer Min Jacob is newly appointed in the Engineering Department and needs to familiarise himself with the workshop, it has been decided that Sub Engineer Mr. Tanu Pillai will be transferred and appointed as Sub Divisional Officer in this town.

The subordinate staff of the agriculture department are delighted that Mr. Mathevan Pillai, the permanent Agriculture Inspection Tahsildar, who was temporarily assigned as Thiruvabharanam (Royal Ornaments) Supervisor, has resumed his previous position. It has become apparent from various incidents that Mr. Govinda Pillai, who temporarily assumed the role, did not handle the responsibilities with kindness, as observed by some. Mr. Pillai, in his capacity as Agriculture Inspection Tahsildar, earned disfavour from his subordinates due to his sycophantic behaviour and strictness, which were deemed incompatible with the ethos of the department. The local accounting officer, who had quarrelled with him, documented the misconduct of this acting officer and presented it in writing to the Divisional Peshkar. In the exercise of his discretionary powers, Mr. Pillai suspended two or three servants and accountants for three months. Since he lacked the authority to suspend any banana planter, Mr. Pillai recommended to the Peshkar to take action. However, Mr. Nagamayya deemed the recommendation unjust and rejected it. Advising Mr. Pillai to "refrain from being adventurous," he reassigned the young man to the south region.

A complaint arose regarding unfair double promotion of a person within the Nair army, allegedly facilitated through bribery. Adjutant Subedar Mr. Parameswaran Pillai was found guilty in the court-martial proceedings. As a consequence, Commandant Colonel Dawson reduced the Adjutant's pay by 5 rupees and demoted him to the rank of a Company Subedar. Another case is pending against this individual.

Mr. Kurian, a surveyor, recently submitted a petition to the Superintendent of Surveys alleging that while he was working in the Cardamom Hills, Survey Sub-Assistant Mr. Maria Michael Pillai had accepted a bribe from someone there, and that he could provide evidence to support this claim. The officer did not summon or question the parties who were accused of giving or receiving bribes, nor did he immediately visit the location to conduct inquiries with a genuine interest in uncovering the truth of the matter. Instead, when the superintendent ordered the petitioner to bring forth witnesses and other evidence to substantiate the allegations, Mr. Kurian stated that it would not be feasible for him to travel to the distant Cardamom Hills to gather witnesses and other necessary information. What benefit does one reap from labouring under such conditions? If the superintendent believes that individuals from the Cardamom Hills would willingly travel to Thiruvananthapuram at their own expense, simply to testify without the backing of a powerful official or court order, he ought to recognise the folly of such assumptions. Alas, it suffices to say that the case ended in disappointment. There is also a rumour that the witness is one of the dependents of the Superintendent.

As the survey work approaches completion, the survey superintendent has issued an order informing employees earning below 25 rupees that their services will cease, starting from the beginning of the month of Kanni (mid-September), with a notice period of three months. The rationale behind the government's decision to send low-paid employees home while retaining higher-paid employees in service remains unclear. The current intention of the government is to cut down on expenditure. In light of this goal, it would have been more prudent to retain more low-wage workers in service. It is widely acknowledged that these underpaid employees work diligently and with care. Nevertheless, it comes as a relief that the superintendent's son-in-law and another close relative were not among those listed. However, it is lamentable, according to him, that instead of retaining many servants and dependents in service, the Dewan chose to strike out their names in blue ink. The staff, once numbering over a hundred, has now been reduced to a mere twenty-five or thirty. Consequently, highly paid supervisory officers find themselves at a loss, unsure of their roles and responsibilities. With a superintendent earning 55 rupees, an assistant superintendent at 25 rupees, a sub-assistant at 12 rupees, along with other officials earning 7 rupees and 4 rupees, one cannot help but question the necessity of such positions. It seems that an assistant superintendent, a head clerk, and a few other staff members would suffice for the task at hand. It has been rumoured that despite these circumstances, the superintendent has opted to appoint another manager. As part of the reform, it is anticipated that over twenty surveyors and the sub-assistant, Mr. Thambi Iyengar, who receives a salary of 100 rupees,will be transferred to the settlement department. The Superintendent has put forth a recommendation for Mr. Maria Michael Pillai to be reassigned to this department, rather than Mr. Iyengar, who possesses English education and commendable work skills.

Under the Kothayar land tax accountant, Mr. Ramakrishna Iyer, his son, Mr. Padmanabha Iyer, who was formerly a clerk in the Town Reform Committee earning 20 rupees, has been appointed as an assistant, with an increase of 15 rupees from his previous salary. Additionally, Mr. Venkitaramana Iyer, previously a computing assistant at the Survey Office earning 20 rupees, has been appointed at 25 rupees.