Employees flaying government policies in public irks Dispur

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government has taken a serious note of the trend of a section of government employees and officials being active on social media against government policies. It goes against the Central Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, 1964.

According to official sources, the Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP government in the state appealed to the State government employees to refrain from criticizing government policies publicly. However, of late, the trend of government employees criticizing government policies in public has become a fashion of sorts. "The government can take harsh action against such employees. It, however, doesn't want to go up to that extent. It wants government employees restrain themselves from such activities to be well within the limits of their service rules. Every government employee is accountable for every action of the government. They get pay and perks for the services they render. How reasonable are they to criticize the government policies in public?" An official source questioned.

Clause IX of the Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, 1964 says, "(i) Government employees should refrain from doing anything which is or may be contradictory to any law, rule, regulation and established practice, (ii) should maintain political neutrality, (iii) no government servant shall, in any radio broadcast, telecast through any electronic media or in any document published any statement of fact or opinion which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the government."

SAKP (Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad) adviser Basab Kalita said, "It is mentioned in the service rule that no government employee can criticize government policy publicly. The government took action against employees violating this rule in the past. If an employee is an office-bearer of a recognized employees' association, he can make some statements."

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