B. Ashok transferred as Principal Secretary, Sainik Welfare

The State government has issued orders transferring and posting B. Ashok as Principal Secretary, Sainik Welfare department. He will also hold full additional charge of the Youth Affairs department, a March 13 order issued by the General Administration department said.

The 1998 batch IAS officer had been serving as Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) and holding the additional charge of Principal Secretary, Agriculture department.

Mr. Ashok’s earlier run-ins with the State government over appointments had hogged headlines on multiple occasions. The latest posting too has grabbed attention for Sainik Welfare is not exactly a coveted department in the service. Mr. Ashok, who continues to be the Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala Agricultural University, has been in the Agriculture department for over three years.

Quashed by CAT

Earlier attempts to post Mr. Ashok as the chairperson of the Local Self-Government Reforms Commission, and then as chairman and managing director of the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation (KTDFC) had been quashed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

In September 2025, the State government had also attempted to post him as principal secretary, Personnel and Administrative Reforms department, ignoring a stay on the earlier government order appointing him as KTDFC CMD.

Earlier, the CAT had invalidated all these transfer orders. The State government has handed over the full additional charge of APC and Principal Secretary, Agriculture, to Tinku Biswal. However, until she rejoins duty after leave, the additional charges of these posts will be held by Biswanath Sinha, Additional Chief Secretary (Home).