IAS officer C. Umasankar on Monday said he would move the Madras High Court against a direction issued by Chief Secretary K. Gnanadesikan to him not to take part in “preaching and propagating activities.”
The officer says he is a Hindu officially but a Christian by faith.
The direction, according to him, came in the way of his enjoying the fundamental rights. For the time being, he complied with the direction. Although he did not agree with the order, he did not go ahead with his original tour of Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts during Saturday-Monday (January 24-26) where he planned to address meetings at churches.
“The direction was served at my Chennai residence on Saturday when I was going to Kanyakumari. Immediately on being informed about the receipt of the order, I decided to cancel my tour and chose to return to Chennai.”
The Chief Secretary’s communication mentioned that during his earlier visit to Kanyakumari on January 16, he “indulged in activities, which created disturbance to public order, resulting in registration of two cases in the Pudukadai police station, Kanyakumari district.”
Referring to Mr. Umasankar’s programmes during January 24-26, the Chief Secretary directed him not to “indulge in such activities which are unbecoming of a member of the service.”