Practicing and propagating my faith is a fundamental right: IAS officer Umashankar

Responding to the Tamil Nadu Government's warning to him to stop preaching in churches as it is in violation of service rules, IAS officer C Umashankar on Wednesday said the practise and propagation of his faith Christianity was his fundamental right, and added that he had not seen any service rule that stopped him from doing so.

"I have a fundamental right to preach and propagate my religion and the Service Rule has got nothing to do with it. Neither the state government nor the Central government can restrict my fundamental right. I am doing it in my free time and do it only in churches or church related conferences. Nobody can raise any questions on that because it does not infringe on anybody's right," Umashankar told ANI.

"Where are they getting the idea that an IAS officer cannot exercise his religious right? My service rules are very clear: they do not speak about religion. Religion is my fundamental right and the Supreme Court is very clear on this. If a fundamental right has to be curtailed, it must be through legislation," he added.

Last week, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K Gnanadesikan had reportedly written to Umashankar, terming his 'preaching and propagating activities' as 'unbecoming' of an officer in the service and was warned that action might be taken against him under the All India Services (conduct) Rules.