Senior Kerala cadre IAS officer B Ashok (IAS:1998:KL), who is known for fighting legal battles and handing out setbacks to the state govt for his postings, was suspended from service on Wednesday. He has been charged with making public comments through media without government consent.
The suspension order, signed by Chief Secretary A Jayathilak (IAS:1991:KL), accuses Ashok of making a series of comments, statements, and communication against the state govt and its departments through different forms of media. The order said Ashok’s actions constituted a breach of discipline and duty.
According to it, disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against him.
Ashok was serving as Principal Secretary of the Sainik Welfare Department when he was suspended. He had earlier successfully fought a legal battle against the state government over his frequent transfers.
Ashok had approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which had stayed his frequent transfers by the left-front government, citing that the transfers were made without the nod of the Civil Services Board (CSB). The CAT had even directed the govt to undertake transfers of IAS officers only through the CSB.
Hence, the present suspension is widely seen as a fallout of a series of legal tussles with the govt at the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). It is also being perceived to be a vindictive action on the part of the govt.
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