Dr. B. Ashok IAS suspended: Critical remarks against government cited

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a swift administrative move, the Kerala state government has suspended Principal Secretary Dr. B. Ashok (IAS) for publicly criticising government policies and departmental operations through various media platforms.

Key details of the suspension

Dr. Ashok, who serves as the Principal Secretary of the Department of Military Welfare and Youth Affairs, was suspended via an official order issued by Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak. While the Central Government has been formally notified of the decision, Ashok will retain his position as the Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala Agricultural University, as disciplinary action against a VC falls under the sole jurisdiction of the Governor. Ashok, who was the Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department, was transferred to the Military Welfare Department just before the elections.

Timing and procedure

The suspension was reportedly fast-tracked to coincide with the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) being on recess until the 13th of the month. Notably, the decision was made by the caretaker government while awaiting election results and bypassed the usual recommendations of the Civil Service Board. The order was finalized shortly after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan returned to duty following medical treatment in Chennai.

Allegations of misconduct

The primary charge against Dr. Ashok is the failure to maintain "political neutrality," a mandatory requirement for All India Service officers. The disciplinary action stems from an email complaint by left-wing organisation representatives K.O. Asokan and Sajeev Divakaran. Specific provocations include:

• Controversial Remarks: In recent interviews, Ashok allegedly described "continued governance" (incumbency) as a "fascist mindset."
• Departmental Criticism: He publicly questioned the efficiency of the State Electricity Board and other government departments.
• Service Rule Violations: He was accused of engaging in social media debates without prior government authorization, often alongside N. Prasanth IAS, who is also currently under suspension.

Official reactions

Dr. B. Ashok: "This suspension is legally untenable and purely retaliatory. The order fails to specify which of my statements were deemed anti-government. I will challenge this in court at the appropriate time."

Ramesh Chennithala (UDF): "If the UDF comes to power, such wrong retaliatory measures will be reviewed. The suspension given to B. Ashok is the latest example of the ongoing retaliatory actions against IAS and IPS officers who serve honestly and refuse to cooperate with corruption. The action is based on a complaint by leftist organisations that he spoke on social media!"