IAS officer Mohammad Mohsin was issued a show cause notice by the Karnataka government on Friday in connection with a tweet talking about Tablighi Jamaat members donating plasma for treatment of other patients.
Mohsin, a 1996 batch IAS officer from Karnataka cadre, made headlines last year after he was suspended by the Election Commission for trying to inspect Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s helicopter during his visit to Odisha in April. He is currently serving as a secretary in the Backward Class Welfare Department.
“More than 300 Tablighi Heroes are donating their plasma to serve the country in New Delhi only. What about? #Godi Media? They will not show the works of Humanity done by these Heroes,” the officer had tweeted on April 27.
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“The adverse coverage this tweet has got in the media has been taken note seriously by the Government given the serious nature of Covid-19 issue and the sensitivities involved,” the show cause notice said.
The notice asked Mohsin to show cause in writing within five days as to why this should not be construed as violation of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and why disciplinary action should not be initiated. The notice has warned of action against Mohsin as per the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 if he fails to submit his reply before the deadline.
Tablighi Jamaat made headlines recently when hundreds of its members who attended a congregation in south Delhi’s Nizamuddin area in March tested positive for coronavirus. Members of the Jamaat who travelled from Delhi to various parts of the country have been blamed for spreading the virus across India.