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IAS officer cites Article 25 as TN govt stops him from prayer meets

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IAS officer cites Article 25 as TN govt stops him from prayer meets

“As per the Article 25 of the Constitution, I have every right to preach what I believe during my free time,” said C Umashankar, a senior IAS officer who was prevented by Tamil Nadu chief secretary K Gnanadesikan from taking part in religious prayers. In a written directive Umashankar was warned against from taking part in seven prayer meetings scheduled from January 24 to 26 in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts

The letter said that he would face “appropriate action” if he indulged in “preaching and propagating” activities. Known as an honest officer, Umashankar suspected Union minister and Kanyakumari MP Pon Radhakrishnan was behind the order. On January 16, police had denied him permission to attend a prayer meeting in Pudukadai in Kanyakumari district and chased away nearly 100 devotees gathered at a local church, he said

“Not only that the police have succumbed to the pressure of BJP and other Hindu groups, including Hindu Munnani, now the government also has taken a decision to stop my religious activities, in which they have no business to interfere. The government direction is unconstitutional,” he said, suspecting that there must be pressure from the Centre that forced the state government to issue such a direction

Despite repeated efforts, Radhakrishnan could not be reached for comments. Chief secretary Gnanadesikan’s letter on January 24 said violating the government direction would invite disciplinary action against him under relevant provisions of the All India Services (conduct) Rules, 1968, and the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969. Umashankar, a Dalit, said it was the pressure and torture by different governments and politicians forced him to change his faith to Christianity in 2008 to help him in “battles against a corrupt establishment”.

In abeyance to the direction, Umashankar said he cancelled all the meetings he scheduled in the last four days. “But this matter is not done with. I will move court to retain my fundamental rights,” he said.

Umashankar is known for his remarkable work in introducing open source softwares in Tamil Nadu, successfully implementing e-governance and exposing the Cremation Shed scam in the first J Jayalalithaa government (1991-96) in which a minister was convicted.

Being in controversy is not new for Umashankar. One of his allegations that Uttarakhand floods and disasters were “a sign of wrath of gods on Hindu sinners” had kicked up a storm. He also faced the wrath of Hindu groups twice, once in Nagapattinam in 2012 and on August 10, 2014 at Tirunelveli, when his vehicle was attacked. As the one who had challenged irregularities by the ministers, the IAS officer finds himself sidelined. He said 18 out of 25 years of his career had been wasted as he became a victim of a corrupt system. “Despite my long experience, I work in the grade of a district revenue officer, he said.

The official also claimed that his prayers could cure people from major diseases. “I am guided by Jesus and I have heard him several times.”

Reacting to the Chief Secretary’s letter, former judge of Madras High Court Justice K Chandru said: “No specific conduct rules prevent Umashankar from preaching religion and he is allowed to do that as long is he is not hurting anyone. Interestingly, the direction was sent by a government, whose entire cabinet ministers had stood in queues for special pujas to save a leader from a corruption case. We have top IAS officers who perform pujas in their office.”

Welcoming the state government directive, Hindu Munnani leader Rama Gopalan told the media that Umashankar’s actions have been contrary to the service rules.


IAS officer cites Article 25 as TN govt stops him from prayer meets | The Indian Express
 
If he loves Jesus so much he should resign from his post and do the spread the Lord's message full time. Having said that bureaucrats mustn't indulge in such activities. Period. There was a case where IG Police in UP was sacked for his love for Krishna. So let's not even go down the path of minorities being persecuted.
 
If he loves Jesus so much he should resign from his post and do the spread the Lord's message full time. Having said that bureaucrats mustn't indulge in such activities. Period. There was a case where IG Police in UP was sacked for his love for Krishna. So let's not even go down the path of minorities being persecuted.
If his love for Jesus is affecting his work, then it is fair to fire him but if he is doing it in his personal capacity with out affecting his job then he has every right to continue with his work.
 
If his love for Jesus is affecting his work, then it is fair to fire him but if he is doing it in his personal capacity with out affecting his job then he has every right to continue with his work.
It's a grey area to be honest. But when this guy go preaching religion in his personal capacity he is introduced as IAS officer don't know how much it influence people but honestly tell me would you like to see our bureaucracy divided on religious lines?
 
there is a difference b/w praying and preaching..............
 
If he loves Jesus so much he should resign from his post and do the spread the Lord's message full time. Having said that bureaucrats mustn't indulge in such activities. Period. There was a case where IG Police in UP was sacked for his love for Krishna. So let's not even go down the path of minorities being persecuted.

Right to propogate is a part of the constitution. There are many IAS officers who are part of right wing groups too.

It's a grey area to be honest. But when this guy go preaching religion in his personal capacity he is introduced as IAS officer don't know how much it influence people but honestly tell me would you like to see our bureaucracy divided on religious lines?

When IAS officers prach hindu religion, then also they are introduced as IAS officers.
 
He is not only preaching but creating hatred by discarding/abusing other religions.He has communalised the office of a civil servant whose only job is to administer 24/7 365 days, their is no personal business their.
 
Right to propogate is a part of the constitution. There are many IAS officers who are part of right wing groups too.



When IAS officers prach hindu religion, then also they are introduced as IAS officers.
IAS officers don't enjoy rights that a normal citizen enjoys. He has to maintain the dignity of the office one holds.

Give me examples of IAS officers preaching hindu religion? I will condemn them equally, their job is of administration not to preach and propagate religion.
 
It's a grey area to be honest. But when this guy go preaching religion in his personal capacity he is introduced as IAS officer don't know how much it influence people but honestly tell me would you like to see our bureaucracy divided on religious lines?
Obviously not but if his preaching is affecting his work, then I said he should be fired but apart from that he is free to do things which the constitution grants him...
 
Right to propogate is a part of the constitution. There are many IAS officers who are part of right wing groups too.



When IAS officers prach hindu religion, then also they are introduced as IAS officers.

IAS officers should stay away any type of religious activities.Hindus,Christian,Muslim whatever it is.
They can do whatever they want when they thrown out that IAS rights and official power.
But when threy are in service under a secular govt they shouldnt indulge in religious activities.
Entire Indians in this nation gives their taxes for Umashanker and his bureacratic community ,not Christians only.
 
IAS officers don't enjoy rights that a normal citizen enjoys. He has to maintain the dignity of the office one holds.

Give me examples of IAS officers preaching hindu religion? I will condemn them equally, their job is of administration not to preach and propagate religion.

Historically lamost all civil servants have these 'extra curricular' activities. SOmetimes it's religious sometimes it's 'social' (like Doval's Vivekananda Foundation to promote conservative views). Several IAS officers also freely associate themselves with big Temple Boards and so on. It's very common. These guys are not in uniform so it's a freedom given to them.

IAS officers should stay away any type of religious activities.Hindus,Christian,Muslim whatever it is.
They can do whatever they want when they thrown out that IAS rights and official power.
But when threy are in service under a secular govt they shouldnt indulge in religious activities.
Entire Indians in this nation gives their taxes for Umashanker and his bureacratic community ,not Christians only.

Such geat thoughts, now scan Devaswom Boards of local temples.
 
Umashankar doesn't need to indulge in hate preaching......
 
Historically lamost all civil servants have these 'extra curricular' activities. SOmetimes it's religious sometimes it's 'social' (like Doval's Vivekananda Foundation to promote conservative views). Several IAS officers also freely associate themselves with big Temple Boards and so on. It's very common. These guys are not in uniform so it's a freedom given to them.



Such geat thoughts, now scan Devaswom Boards of local temples.

Did they go for preaching ?I mean talking for only one religion.
 
Did they go for preaching ?I mean talking for only one religion.

So if you become a trustee of a temple, you are not forwarding a religion? When they go to public occasions and speak greatly about religious themes (greatness of Gita or Rama or Krishna), is it not forwarding one religion? Why are you feeling threatened? It is part of every service, it's ok. Id he says good things about Christianity, I'm ok. But if he said something AGAINST another religion, I think it's inappropriate and he should be removed.
 
So if you become a trustee of a temple, you are not forwarding a religion? When they go to public occasions and speak greatly about religious themes (greatness of Gita or Rama or Krishna), is it not forwarding one religion? Why are you feeling threatened? It is part of every service, it's ok. Id he says good things about Christianity, I'm ok. But if he said something AGAINST another religion, I think it's inappropriate and he should be removed.
you do know how much donation temples get? Hindus been asking govt to remove those govt babus.
 
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