Despite having been suspended just two days back for publicly criticising the state government, senior Kerala cadre IAS officer B Ashok (IAS:1998:KL) continued his barb against the left govt on Thursday.
Ashok made an elaborate attack on the govt, saying that an “IAS caucus” worked in the state to ensure the continuation of the present regime and that this approach was adopted over the past 10 years, which will end on May 4, the day counting of votes will take place.
Ashok alleged that the govt had been targeting civil servants since Jan 25, 2026, through the General Administration Department (GAD).
He charged the Pinarayi Vijayan govt in the state with losing proper coordination in its second term during which it “lost rhythm completely.” According to him, coordination with the civil service has collapsed in Kerala.
While referring to his suspension, Ashok said he did not attach any significance to it, as it was ordered by a govt “rejected by the people of Kerala on April 9″—the day Kerala went for the Assembly polls. “The day the next govt is sworn in, this baseless suspension order will be withdrawn,” he is reported to have remarked.
Interestingly, Ashok claimed that the suspension order did not clearly specify the reasons, but he did not intend to approach a court or tribunal over it.
But it did not stop him from moving the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), seeking to initiate a contempt case against Chief Secretary A Jayathilak (IAS:1991:KL), alleging that the government violated the Tribunal’s order by handing over the charge of Excise Commissioner to an IPS officer after removing IAS officer M R Ajithkumar (IAS:2006:KL) from the post.
Ashok also alleged that the Chief Secretary, who is the chairman of the Civil Services Board (CSB), did not convene the CSB meeting to appoint an IPS officer in the place of the IAS officer to the post of the Excise Commissioner.
Considering Ashok’s plea, the CAT has asked the government to reply.
Get Latest Updates