Thiruvananthapuram,29 April (H.S):The Kerala government has suspended senior IAS officer B. Ashok, who was serving as Principal Secretary of the Department of Sainik Welfare, triggering a political and administrative controversy ahead of the declaration of Assembly election results.

The action was reportedly taken on the grounds that Ashok violated service rules by speaking to the media and publicly criticising the government’s policies and functioning. According to officials, his remarks highlighting alleged lapses in governance were seen as a breach of conduct expected from a serving civil servant.

However, the timing and manner of the suspension have raised serious questions. The action comes at a time when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is still in force following the recently concluded Assembly elections. Critics argue that the government should have obtained prior approval from the Election Commission before initiating disciplinary action against a senior officer during this period.

Legal and administrative experts have pointed out that any such move without the Election Commission’s consent could be deemed irregular or even unlawful under election guidelines. The issue has now sparked debate over whether due procedure was followed.

Responding to the suspension, B. Ashok termed the action “illegal” and alleged that it was a case of “vendetta” by the government. He maintained that his statements were made in public interest and insisted that he had not violated any rules warranting such a stringent action.

The development has intensified the ongoing political atmosphere in the state, with opposition voices likely to seize upon the issue in the run-up to the counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The government, however, has defended its decision, reiterating that service rules prohibit officials from making public comments that could undermine the administration.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman