Transport Commissioner Tomin Thachankary expressed regret on Wednesday for sending out a circular last week, instructing staff to celebrate his birthday.  The commissioner has been heavily criticised for his over-the-top birthday directive.  

He expressed regret at a public event held in Kozhikode, in which Transport Minister AK Saseendran also participated. Manorama News reported that the minister left the venue while Thachankary was delivering his address.

On August 10, a circular titled “Today is my birthday” was sent to all RTOs directing them to distribute sweets, the expense of which will be borne by the commissioner. After cutting a birthday cake at his office, he also held a second cake-cutting the next day and distributed sweets to the people at a filling station.

This unusual circular has snowballed into a controversy with the Transport Minister AK Saseendran coming down heavily on the commissioner. He also ordered a probe against the commissioner.

The opposition used the opportunity to hit out at the LDF government, saying that the minister was losing the battle with Thachankary. Saseendran had earlier demanded an explanation from the commissioner for issuing a 'no-helmet no-petrol' rule without consulting him.