The State Government issued orders for the transfer and posting of B. Ashok as Principal Secretary, Sainik Welfare Department. He will also bear full additional responsibility for the Youth Affairs Department, according to an order issued on March 13 by the General Administration Department.
The IAS officer served as Agricultural Production Commissioner (APC) in 1998 and had the additional charge of Principal Secretary, Agriculture Department.
Mr. Ashok’s earlier spats with the state government over appointments had grabbed headlines on many occasions. The last post also caught the eye for Sainik Social welfare is not exactly a sought after department in the service. Mr. Ashok, who continues to be the Vice-Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University, has been with the Department of Agriculture for over three years.
Canceled by CAT
Earlier attempts to install Mr. Ashok as chairman of the Local Government Reforms Commission and then as chairman and managing director of the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation (KTDFC) were quashed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
In September 2025, the state government also tried to appoint him as Principal Secretary, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, ignoring the validity of an earlier government order appointing KTDFC CMD.
Earlier CAT had canceled all these transfer orders. The state government has handed over the entire additional charge of APC and Principal Secretary Agriculture to Tinku Biswala. However, till he rejoins duty after leave, additional charges for these functions will be borne by Biswanath Sinha, Additional Principal Secretary (Home).
Published – 14 March 2026 20:53 IST
