Kerala IAS officer suspended for public comments against government

Thiruvananthapuram: A senior IAS officer in Kerala has been suspended from service on charges of making public comments through media without government consent.

Sainik Welfare Department Principal Secretary B Ashok was suspended on Wednesday.

He had earlier successfully fought a legal battle against the state government over his frequent transfers.

The Central Administrative Tribunal had stayed the frequent transfers of Ashok by the left-front government citing that the transfers were made without the nod of the civil services board.

Hence the present suspension could be widely interpreted as a vindictive action.

According to the suspension order issued by the government, Ashok was accused of making statements through media without obtaining government's mandatory permission.

It amounted to breach of duty and hence disciplinary proceedings being initiated. An inquiry will be initiated against him.