Ranchi, Oct. 25: Chief minister Raghubar Das was evasive and the bureaucracy divided when asked to comment on the showcause served to panchayati raj secretary Vandana Dadel, IAS, for her Facebook post on the tribals' right to choose their own religion.

"Everything has been published in newspapers. I have nothing new to add," Das told The Telegraph at Suchana Bhavan today, but his brevity and stiff body language indicated his displeasure.

Yesterday, personnel, administrative reforms and rajbhasha department, which Das heads, served a showcause signed by department undersecretary Arun Kumar Sinha to Dadel, asking her to justify within 15 days why no action should be taken against her for flouting provisions of Sections 3 (1) and 7 (1) of All India Services (Conduct) Rules (1968) for her Facebook post where she had wondered why "questions are raised on religious conversion during an official programme".

Without naming names, Dadel, a tribal Christian, seemed to be alluding to Das's comments on conversion during a gram sabha meeting in Kathikund, Dumka, on October 20, where she was present.

There, the chief minister claimed those involved in conversions of tribals were inciting the protest against the state's bid to amend tenancy laws.

"Does a tribal in this state have no right to choose a religion of his/her choice..." Dadel asked on FB that same day.

It is something the state seems to have read as a response to the chief minister, challenging provisions of services conduct rules all IAS officers are bound by.

Section 3(1) says members of the service would do "nothing unbecoming". Section 7(1) adds no member shall, in any "radio broadcast or communication over any public media or in any document published anonymously, pseudonymously or in his own name or in the name of any other person or in any communication to the press or in any public utterance", make a statement of fact or opinion that "has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action" of the Centre or state government.

In bureaucratic circles, opinion is divided. A former IAS officer and now a BJP member, said IAS officers had the right to air views in tune with Constitution provisions and hoped the state would deal with the case with sensitivity.

But, personnel, administrative reforms and rajbhasha department principal secretary Nidhi Khare said though public servants had fundamental rights, they were bound by the code of conduct. "This is not for the first time she (Dadel) kindled controversies through her public remarks. She is also not the first to be showcaused," she said.

"We are monitoring the goings-on. But, so far neither Dadel nor any association member has sought our help," added IAS Association secretary Amarendra Pratap Singh.