Kerala IAS Officers Suspended for Violation of Service Rules

• Two Kerala IAS officers, N. Prashant and K. Gopalakrishnan, were suspended due to violations of service rules.

• Prashant was charged with making ‘derogatory statements’ on social media against A. Jayathilak IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, undermining the public image of the State.

• Gopalakrishnan was suspended for creating a religion-based WhatsApp group ‘Mallu Hindu Officers’, which sparked disunity and created communal formations within the IAS cadre.

• The All-India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 (AIS rules) govern the conduct of IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service officers.

• The rules state high standards of ethics, integrity, honesty, political neutrality, accountability, and transparency.

• Officers are prohibited from adversely criticizing government policies in public media and from seeking court or press vindication of official acts subject to criticism without the previous sanction of the government.

• The ‘unbecoming of a member of the service’ rule is an omnibus rider that can be misused/misinterpreted.

• The review of the rules could include adding specific rules for the use of social media, including guidelines for official content and the right to defend against defamatory campaigns.

• Officers should exercise responsible anonymity while discharging their functions and disseminating information about governmental initiatives.