Unabashedly criticised govt policies on media talk show; Principal Secretary B Ashok suspended

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: B Ashok, Principal Secretary, Sainik Welfare Department, was suspended for outrightly criticising the government. The action was initiated after Ashok appeared in media discussions without taking permission and went ahead to criticise the government. The order was issued by the Chief Secretary. The suspension is based on the following reasons: he criticised the government's policies on social media, spoke against the government in interviews, and violated the service rules that an IAS officer must follow.

Earlier, Ashok was transferred from the Agriculture Department. The transfer to the Sainik Welfare Department came after Ashok secured a favourable verdict from the Central Administrative Tribunal against the government's action on the transfer and appointment of IAS officers. He was also given the additional charge of the Youth Affairs Department. A board headed by the Chief Secretary recommended that the government transfer Ashok, who had been in the Agriculture Department for three and a half years.

The CAT had ordered that a two-year tenure in a post should be ensured and that the recommendation of the Civil Service Board should be required for any transfer. The tribunal had earlier quashed Ashok's three transfers.

Ashok was first transferred as the Chairman of the Local Government Reforms Commission, then as the Chairman of the Transport Development Finance Corporation and then as the Principal Secretary of Personnel and Administrative Reforms. The tribunal quashed all three transfers, which became a setback for the government.