The Indian Veterinary Association on Thursday alleged that undue interference from IAS officers was hampering work of other officials in the animal and fish resources department.

At a news meet in Patna on Thursday, the association president, Dr R.S. Sharma, said: “Technocrats (people with specialisation in the veterinary field) in several key posts of the department are unable to discharge their work in a cordial atmosphere because of interference from IAS officers.”

The members have decided to organise a daylong protest at JP roundabout on November 9 to press for demands, including deputation of veterinarians in the department instead of IAS officers.

The association on Thursday also came down heavily on the suspension of two officers, Sunil Kumar Shahi, joint director, animal health, and Dharmendra Singh, director, vaccine production centre, by the department. Both these officers were suspended over the past fortnight for alleged irregularities.

While Shahi was suspended on October 24 for not starting an ambulance service in flood-affected areas, Singh was suspended on November 3 for alleged irregularity in issuing tender for purchasing machines for vaccination centres.

Singh, who was also present at the news meet, said they were denied natural justice as showcause notices were not issued to them prior to their suspension.

“We demand revocation of the suspension order against both the officers,” said Dr Sharma said, adding that if the government wanted proper development of the department, it needed to give the specialists their due place.

The association raised the demand for a specialist on the post of director, animal husbandry, instead of an IAS officer, filling 1,100 and odd vacancies in the department and regularisation of doctors working on contract in the state’s different veterinary colleges.