Kerala Municipality Employees Shoot Reels During Work Hours, Land In Trouble

The incident caught the attention of Kerala Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh who launched an investigation but instructed officials not to take disciplinary action against employees.

The employees were called in on a holiday to address urgent monsoon-related tasks per the Collector's instructions.

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A recent controversy erupted on social media after authorities at Thiruvalla Municipality in Pathanamthitta district issued a show-cause notice to a group of employees for shooting a viral reel. The group, consisting of two female and six male employees, filmed the reel on a Sunday while on duty for emergency monsoon-related work.

The incident caught the attention of State Local Self-Government Department Minister M B Rajesh, who launched an investigation. It was determined that the eight employees were called in on a holiday to address urgent monsoon-related tasks per the Collector's instructions. Importantly, the reel was shot without disrupting their official work.

Minister Rajesh, upon reviewing the case, instructed officials not to take disciplinary action against the employees, according to a report on PTI. He commended the workers for their dedication, noting their willingness to work on Sundays during emergencies. Rajesh emphasized the government's support for employees' creative and cultural activities, provided these do not interfere with official duties or violate service rules.

"The government fully supports all creative and cultural activities of employees. However, they should be done without affecting official duties, causing inconvenience to the public, and violating service rules. All such activities should be conducted only during non-duty hours," Rajesh stated. He added that the government has already issued instructions against organizing celebrations or events during working hours that could hinder official work.

Ahead of Minister's announcement, however, a show-cause notice was issued to them. The Municipality secretary also sought an explanation from the involved employees, as reported by Mathrubhumi.

Earlier, IAS Prasanth supported the employees' act and said that let those employees who work without considering the overtime they put into their profession enjoy and do what they like.