THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Showering praise on outgoing Chief Secretary Nalini Netto for her exemplary contributions as a senior bureaucrat, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said upcoming bureaucrats could consider her as a role model.
At the farewell accorded to Nalini Netto, on her retirement after putting in 36 years of service as an IAS officer, he said she always had respect for democratic institutions and powers of people’s representatives.
“At no stage in her decades-long service as a senior bureaucrat, she had shown factional or divisive approaches. She always stood for the best interests of the state and its people. Her personal likes or dislikes had never come in the way of dispensing justice. At the same time she was never ready to genuflect before powers outside the constitutional purview,” Pinarayi said.
He recollected Nalini Netto had always been ready to work under any political system without making any complaints. The young bureaucrats could learn from her there was enough space for those who wish to work for the welfare of the people.
He reminded bureaucrats while they give emphasis on maintaining restraint to ensure no law is violated, they also should have a bend of mind for the welfare of the people. “If the stress is only on law, it will not necessarily be helpful for dispensing justice,” he said.
Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan, Chief Secretary- designate K M Abraham and others spoke.
Nalini Netto in her reply speech said she was indebted to her teachers at the Government Cotton Hills Girls Higher Secondary school who instilled confidence in her that being a woman would not be a handicap in contributing to the progress of the state.
She recollected she could make a record of sorts by serving as the Chief Electoral Officer for 11 years. She said she could conduct four major elections without any complaint from any side.
Two govt officers suspended
Two officers of the Mining and Geology Department were suspended on Wednesday for allegedly laundering demonetised currency notes. Geologist A K Manoj and Assistant Geologist Subeesh Thottiyil were suspended for exchanging the notes against Rs 70,000 collected as fine by the department at the government treasury.