Show cause notice to IAS officer over Facebook post questioning judiciary

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has issued a show cause notice to IAS officer Alex Paul Menon for his recent post on Facebook questioning the Indian judiciary.

A 2006 batch officer, Menon, who is presently the CEO of Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS), had purportedly put up a Facebook post on June 18 "is there a bias in India's legal system with 94% of Indians on death row being either Muslim or Dalit?”

The post drew criticism on social media dubbing it as a voice against the country's judicial system by an IAS officer.

"He (Alex Paul Menon) had posted a comment on social media which was construed as a violation of conduct as per All India Service rules. His comment was perceived as criticism of the judiciary which is a part of the government.

Hence, a show notice has been issued to him asking why an action shouldn't be taken against him," State's General Administration Department Secretary, Nidhi Chibber told PTI.

An all-India service officer should not make such comments with any kind of media against the policy or working of the government, she said adding the officer has been asked to reply within a month in the notice and further action will be taken accordingly.

When contacted, the officer refused to comment. Menon was in limelight in 2012 following his abduction by Maoists during his tenure as Collector of Sukma in Bastar region.