Madhya Pradesh IAS Officer Santosh Verma Faces Show-Cause Notice Over Brahmin Daughters Remark

Key Highlights

• Madhya Pradesh IAS officer Santosh Verma received a show-cause notice from the General Administration Department for remarks deemed indiscipline and serious misconduct under All India Services rules.
• The controversial statement was made at an AJAKS convention in Bhopal on November 23, 2025, sparking statewide protests and political demands for strict action.
• Verma apologized, claiming selective clipping of his 27-minute speech, amid scrutiny of his prior controversies including document forgery.

Opening Overview

Madhya Pradesh IAS officer Santosh Verma, a senior bureaucrat and AJAKS State President for SC/ST employees, ignited a firestorm with remarks linking reservation policies to Brahmin daughters during a Bhopal convention. The Madhya Pradesh government swiftly issued a show-cause notice late on November 26, 2025, labeling the statement as arbitrariness and a breach of dignity expected from Indian Administrative Service members. This Madhya Pradesh IAS officer controversy has amplified calls for accountability, with protests erupting across the state and leaders from BJP and Congress demanding expulsion or FIRs. The incident exposes fault lines in caste discourse, reservation debates, and the stringent conduct codes binding civil servants.

As Verma must respond within seven days or face unilateral action, the case tests enforcement of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, particularly Rule 3 on general conduct prohibiting acts that harm social harmony. Rooted in a viral video, this Madhya Pradesh IAS officer episode revives questions on public statements by officials, especially those heading employee associations.

Roots of the Madhya Pradesh IAS Officer Controversy

• Verma’s remark at the AJAKS event proposed limiting family reservations until a Brahmin donates his daughter to his son or forms a relationship with her, viewed as derogatory and divisive.
• The statement surfaced amid his election as provincial president, blending official capacity with association role, heightening its impact.
• The controversy began at the AJAKS State Convention in Bhopal on November 23, 2025, where Madhya Pradesh IAS officer Santosh Verma addressed reservation policies. His provocative phrasing, captured in a brief video clip, spread rapidly online, fueling outrage among Brahmin groups and beyond. Protesters, including those wielding sickles in some areas, gathered outside offices, submitting memorandums to Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla via the Mantralay Officers-Employees Union led by Sudhir Nayak. Senior BJP leader Gopal Bhargava branded the Madhya Pradesh IAS officer “characterless” and mentally unfit, vowing to urge Chief Minister and Chief Secretary for revoking his IAS award. Congress MLA Hemant Katare pushed for an FIR and jail time, accusing Verma of societal division. This Madhya Pradesh IAS officer incident underscores how personal rhetoric can escalate into statewide unrest, particularly on caste sensitivities. Verma’s defense cited distortion from a 27-minute speech, but critics argue context does not excuse the phrasing’s inflammatory nature.

Until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son or has a relationship with him, reservations should continue – IAS Santosh Verma.

Clearly, he became an IAS officer not due to talent but because of reservation, hence such cheapness.
The saddest part is, he will continue on his… pic.twitter.com/Uz4ZlhnRlc

— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) November 25, 2025

Government Response and Legal Framework

• General Administration Department notice invokes All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 (Rules 3(1), 3(2)) and Discipline and Appeal Rules, 1969 (Rule 10(1)(a)), demanding explanation within seven days.
• Failure to reply triggers departmental action without further notice, aligning with suspension protocols under Rule 3 of Discipline Rules.
• The Madhya Pradesh government acted decisively, with the General Administration Department issuing the notice signed by Deputy Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sharma. It explicitly states the Madhya Pradesh IAS officer’s remarks violate conduct expected from service members, constituting indiscipline and misconduct detrimental to social harmony. Under All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, Rule 3 mandates general integrity, prohibiting actions causing communal discord. The Discipline and Appeal Rules, 1969, empower such proceedings, with Rule 10 allowing penalties from censure to dismissal. This framework, notified under the All India Services Act, 1951, ensures uniformity across cadres. For context, DoPT guidelines limit suspension periods: 60 days initially, extendable to 120 days, with reviews by committees, and automatic revocation after one year for non-corruption cases unless extended. The notice warns of unilateral steps if Verma defaults, reflecting zero tolerance for breaches. This Madhya Pradesh IAS officer case exemplifies swift bureaucratic machinery activation amid public pressure, contrasting slower responses in past instances.

Santosh Verma पर नोटिस तो जारी हो गया, लेकिन ये सिर्फ शुरुआत है। अब सरकार अगर सच में ईमानदार है तो इनकी पुरानी फाइलें भी खोलनी चाहिए। सोशल मीडिया हो या ज़मीनी स्तर किसी भी समाज पर अभद्र टिप्पणी करने वालों को अब साफ संदेश मिलना चाहिए कि बचना मुश्किल है। नियम सबके लिए बराबर हों,… pic.twitter.com/siAtBsyxq6

— Abhinay Pandey (@AbhinayWithYou) November 27, 2025

Santosh Verma’s Profile and Past Record

• 2012-batch officer, currently Deputy Secretary in Agriculture Department, previously in state administrative service with arrests for forgery.
• Faced exploitation allegations from women claiming false marriage promises; history amplifies current scrutiny.
• Madhya Pradesh IAS officer Santosh Verma, from the 2012 batch, holds a contentious track record that has resurfaced. Earlier, as a state service officer, he allegedly forged court orders and a judge’s signature to evade cases, leading to arrest in Indore after judicial complaint. Two women accused the Madhya Pradesh IAS officer of exploitation via marriage promises followed by threats. Promoted to IAS despite this, Verma’s AJAKS leadership amplified his platform. Official records from DoPT highlight rising complaints: 380 against IAS in 2015-16, climbing to 753 by 2019-20, per Ministry data, though convictions remain low.

This table illustrates escalating oversight needs. Verma’s dual role as official and association head blurs lines, inviting questions on impartiality under Rule 7 of Conduct Rules barring unauthorized public criticism. His apology sought to mitigate, but prior lapses fuel demands for comprehensive probe.

Broader Implications for Civil Service Conduct

• Incident highlights tensions in SC/ST associations advocating reservations versus general conduct duties.
• Parallels cases like J&K IAS officer facing charges for social media posts against policy, per MHA proceedings under similar rules.
• This Madhya Pradesh IAS officer saga reverberates through civil services, where conduct rules demand apolitical neutrality. Rule 3(1)(iii) of 1968 Conduct Rules prohibits canvassing or criticizing government policy publicly. Verma’s reservation critique, though association-tied, risks perception of bias. Nationally, DoPT’s 2023-24 report notes four final disciplinary orders, amid probationer postings. Reservation debates persist, with AJAKS pushing SC/ST quotas, but officers must avoid inflammatory language per Supreme Court guidelines on harmony. Protests signal community mobilization, pressuring swift resolution. Future penalties could range from minor censure to major dismissal under Rule 6, with corruption mandating removal. This Madhya Pradesh IAS officer controversy may set precedent for association speeches, urging clearer DoPT advisories on boundaries.

Closing Assessment

The show-cause notice to Madhya Pradesh IAS officer Santosh Verma marks a critical enforcement of conduct norms amid caste volatility. With protests raging and political crossfire intensifying, the seven-day deadline looms large, potentially leading to suspension or worse under Discipline Rules. This Madhya Pradesh IAS officer case reminds bureaucrats that public platforms demand restraint, safeguarding institutional trust. As Verma responds, outcomes will gauge Madhya Pradesh’s commitment to impartial governance, influencing how services navigate reservation discourse without eroding social fabric. Ultimately, it prompts reflection: can civil servants reconcile advocacy with duty’s dignity?