Dr B Ashok, a senior IAS officer holding key administrative positions in Kerala, has been suspended after allegedly speaking to the media without permission and criticising government policies.
Thiruvananthupuram: Dr B Ashok, Principal Secretary of the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Department in Kerala and Vice-Chancellor of the Agricultural University, has been suspended by the state government.
According to the Chief Secretary’s order, the action was taken after it was found that he had spoken to the media without obtaining prior permission, which is considered a violation of service rules for serving IAS officers.
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Reports state that Ashok had been participating in television channel discussions where he openly criticised government policies. Following these public remarks, the government initiated disciplinary action against him.
It is a rule under civil service conduct guidelines that serving officers are not permitted to publicly criticise government decisions or policies while in office.
After the suspension, Dr B Ashok reportedly stated, “The government is not taking legal action for now as the government is changing.”
The suspension has drawn attention as it involves a senior bureaucrat holding dual responsibilities in both administrative service and university governance, raising questions about adherence to service conduct norms.
Published: 29 Apr 2026, 06:51 pm IST
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