Nearly two years after the death of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, the Kerala government has handed over the appointment order to his daughter, Niranjana N Nair, for the post of Food Safety Officer in the Food Safety Department under the Compassionate Employment Scheme.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan handed over the appointment order to Niranjana in the presence of her mother, K Manjusha. Satheesan said the government had fulfilled another commitment made to Naveen Babu’s family.
Niranjana had initially sought an appointment in the Revenue Department or an equivalent post under the compassionate employment scheme. However, government rules prescribe an annual family income ceiling of ₹8 lakh for such appointments.
Later, Manjusha requested that her daughter be considered for positions including Technical Assistant, Food Safety Officer or Junior Manager (Quality Assurance) in the Food Safety and Civil Supplies departments. After examining the request, the government treated the matter as a special case and granted a relaxation from the prescribed income ceiling.
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Naveen Babu was found dead on October 15, 2024, the day he was scheduled to take charge as the ADM of Pathanamthitta. His transfer to his home district was expected to be his final posting before retirement.
His death led to a major controversy after allegations were raised against then-Kannur District Panchayat president and CPM leader P P Divya. A day before Naveen Babu’s death, Divya attended a farewell function organised for him at the Kannur Collectorate, despite not being invited.
During the event, she publicly accused the officer of delaying the issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for a petrol pump despite repeated requests. Although she acknowledged that the NOC was eventually issued, she questioned the circumstances surrounding its approval and hinted at possible corruption. She also said she would reveal further details within two days.
A video of her remarks subsequently went viral, triggering widespread criticism. Opposition parties and employee organisations called for a detailed investigation, while Naveen Babu’s family alleged that the public humiliation had contributed to his death.
Following the controversy, the CPM removed Divya from the post of Kannur District Panchayat president. She was later removed from the party’s district committee and demoted to the branch committee, while also losing her elected positions within the party.
The appointment of Niranjana as a Food Safety Officer comes as the government fulfils its commitment to provide her employment under the compassionate appointment scheme, after making a special relaxation in the applicable rules.
