'Democracy Being Compromised': Another IAS Officer Resigns Raising Concerns Over India's Future

Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district S Sasikanth Senthil on Friday, September 7, resigned from Indian Administrative Service, expressing concern over the “future of India” in his resignation letter.

He served in the post since June 2017 and was recognised as one of the most proactive deputy commissioners of the district. Senthil was serving as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dakshina Kannada district.

Senthil wrote in his resignation letter that democracy was being compromised in an unprecedented manner.

Senthil claimed that it is “unethical” for him to continue in his line of duty “as a civil servant in the government when the fundamental building blocks of our diverse democracy are being compromised in an unprecedented manner”.

“I have taken this decision as I feel that it is unethical for me to continue as a civil servant in the government with the fundamental building blocks of our diverse democracy being compromised in an unprecedented manner. I also feel strongly that the coming days will present extremely difficult challenges to the basic fabric of our nation and that I would be better off outside the IAS to continue with my work at making life better for all,” he wrote in his letter.

#IAS officer S Sasikanth Senthil resigns from service. He was Dakshina Kannada DC. Says unethical for me to continue as fundamental building blocks of democracy are being compromised in an 'unprecedented manner'. @DeccanHerald pic.twitter.com/4qah7Dui7Q

— Akram Mohammed (@akramtalk) September 6, 2019

Gopinathan had said he was really disturbed with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, wherein a large section of the population had their fundamental rights suspended.

“If you ask me what you were doing, when one of the world’s largest democracies announced a ban on the entire state, and even violated the fundamental rights of the people, I should at least be able to reply that I resigned my job,” he said.

“The coming days would present extremely difficult challenges in the basic fabric of the Nation. As such it would be better to be outside IAS to continue his work,” Senthil said.

Sasikanth, a 2009 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Karnataka cadre, was a Tamil Nadu topper in the Union Public Service Commission exams and secured the ninth spot at an all-India level.

In the past, Senthil served as the assistant commissioner in Ballari between 2009 and 2012 and occupied the post of chief executive officer of Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat for two terms. He was also the deputy commissioner of Chitradurga and Raichur districts and director in the Mines and Geology Department since November 2016.

Sasikanth’s resignation comes a month after another IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan had quit from service citing restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir. However, he was asked to resume duty until his resignation is accepted.

Also, Read ‘Efforts To Discredit Me’: Former IAS Officer Who Resigned Over Kashmir Restrictions