C Umashankar argues that the state government is denying him his fundamental rights.
C Umashankar, a Tamil Nadu bureaucrat, is trending on social media after a run-in with the state government, which has barred him from preaching at church on his days off from work.
Mr Umashankar has said he will move court against the Tamil Nadu government order. The hashtags IASevangelist and Umashankar trended on Twitter on Thursday morning.
Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K Gnanadesikan had sent a notice to Mr Umashankar a few days ago, asking him to stop preaching on the grounds that it could lead to communal disharmony. The notice also warned the 50-year-old that disciplinary action could be initiated against him for the alleged violation of service rules.
The 1990 batch IAS officer cancelled three meetings he was to address this week, but argues that the state government is denying him his fundamental rights. He contends that service rules cannot stop him from exercising his fundamental right to practice and propagate the religion of his choice.
"Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution are paramount to service rules," he said. "As a Hindu officer, I used to worship at temples and pull temple chariots. Nobody complained then. So, why now?" asked Mr Umashankar, who had converted to Christianity in 2008.
Former Tamil Nadu Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian disagrees. "IAS officers represent the government, and they have to not only be impartial but seen to be impartial. He can always resign and do this. To speak in a politically partisan way is unacceptable," he said.
Mr Umashankar says he preaches but is not involved in proselytism. Less than two weeks ago, his vehicle was stoned in the communally sensitive Kanyakumari district, allegedly by Hindu groups who accuse him of trying to convert people.
Groups like the Hindu Munnani have welcomed the Tamil Nadu government directive forbidding the bureaucrat from preaching.
Mr Uma Shankar has had other run-ins with the state government. In 2010, he was suspended after doubts were raised about whether his certificate that he is Dalit was genuine. The suspension was revoked later.
He also unearthed several alleged scams in Tamil Nadu.