“Is there a bias in India’s legal system, with 94 percent of Indians on death row being either Muslim or Dalit (untouchables)?” This June 18 Facebook post by Alex Paul Menon, an Indian Administrative Services officer, has landed him in hot water. The state of Chhattisgarh government has served him a show cause notice to appear in front of a court for criticizing the country's justice system.
According to the Chhattisgarh administration, “Alex Paul Menon has violated the code of conduct rules for Indian Administrative Service officers. He has questioned the Indian judicial system. The Chhattisgarh government has taken serious note of his Facebook post; therefore a show cause notice has been issued to him, asking him why he shouldn't be tried in court. He has to reply within a month.”
Menon had also been targeted by a congressional leader for his way of conducting himself during his tenure as a collector in Balrampur. The congressional leader had also raised the issue in the State Legislative Assembly.
Alex Paul Menon is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society. He was abducted by Maoists in 2012 during his tenure as District Magistrate of Sukma in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
In light of the recent spate of social media posts prompted by government officials, the Indian government has proposed certain amendments to the Conduct Rules. According to the proposed plan, any criticism of the government or its policies on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook or WhatsApp will also warrant disciplinary action.
