Now, Kerala govt transfers B Ashok to P&ARD

Thiruvananthapuram: The state govt has issued orders transferring senior IAS officer B Ashok from the agriculture department. Ashok, who was serving as principal secretary in agriculture department, is now posted as principal secretary, personnel and administrative reforms department (P&ARD), with effect from Sept 17.The move comes just days after Ashok resumed charge in agriculture department following a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) stay on the govt's earlier decision to shift him as chairman of the Kerala transport development finance corporation. After the stay, Ashok ended his leave and rejoined as principal secretary in agriculture department but within days he was moved out again.In the latest reshuffle, Tinku Biswal, who was brought in as principal secretary of agriculture department in Ashok's place, is now appointed principal secretary, local self-govt department.Ashok's removal from agriculture department had earlier triggered controversy after media reports surfaced on the diversion of World Bank funds allotted for the Rebuild Kerala project. Documents related to the fund diversion were leaked, and Ashok was tasked with probing how the details came out. In his report, however, he questioned how files from the agriculture department were collected directly by the chief minister's office.It was after this that the govt ordered his removal. A similar attempt in Jan to move him from agriculture department to the post of chairman of the local govt reforms commission was also struck down by the CAT.