A Kerala government employee was suspended on Friday for posting a casteist and insensitive comment on social media about Ranjitha G Nair, a 39-year-old nurse from Kerala who lost her life in the tragic Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The official, identified as A Pavithran, was serving as a junior superintendent at the Vellarikundu Taluk Office in the Kasaragod district. He made a controversial post on Facebook, referencing Ranjitha’s caste and questioning her eligibility for a state government job.
“This is a despicable act by a government officer,” stated Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan. He confirmed that a suspension order was issued immediately after the post came to his notice. “Such insensitivity and caste-based comments are completely unacceptable, especially during a time of collective grief,” he added.
In his Facebook post, Pavithran wrote, “A Nair woman from Kerala passed away. She went to the UK after taking leave from the state government job she got and spoiling another person’s opportunity. Not feeling anything. Condolences to all.” The remark quickly drew widespread criticism on social media. Citizens, political leaders, and civil society organisations condemned the post as casteist and inhumane, especially given the tragic loss of life in the plane crash.
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Ranjitha had been working as a nurse in the United Kingdom and had returned to India just four days before the crash. Her family said she had come back to complete formalities for her new appointment at a government-run health facility in Kerala. She was flying back to the UK to officially resign from her post there and return to serve in the state’s public healthcare system.
Ranjitha was among the 12 crew members on board Air India Flight AI171, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad while en route to London Gatwick Airport. The accident claimed 241 lives, making it one of the deadliest air disasters in recent history.
The Nair community, a socially prominent and historically upper-caste group in Kerala, strongly denounced Pavithran’s comment, calling it discriminatory and deeply disrespectful to the memory of a dedicated healthcare worker. Minister Rajan emphasized that the state government would not tolerate such conduct from its employees. He said an inquiry has been launched, and further disciplinary action will be taken based on the investigation’s outcome.
The suspension is seen as a warning to government employees to uphold respect, dignity, and sensitivity in their public conduct, particularly during times of national tragedy.
Also Read: Former-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani among 241 killed in AI crash
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