Govt issues ‘gag orders’ to officers

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 24

Criticism of the government policy in print and electronic media will cost the public servants dear with the state government virtually issuing ‘gag orders’ under its new employees’ rules.

“No government employee, in any radio broadcast or communication over any electronic media, or in any document published in his own or anonymously or in any public utterances shall indulge in adverse criticism of the current or recent government policy of the Haryana Government, Central government or any other state government,” recently-notified Haryana Civil Services (Government Employees’ Conduct) Rules, 2016, said.

Besides, elaborate do’s and don’ts, listed in the rules, also bar the bureaucrats from going public with statement which “is embarrassing for relations between the state government and the Central government and the Haryana Government and any other state government.” Similarly, statements capable of embarrassing relations between the Haryana Government and any foreign state have also been barred.

However, statements made by officials in the discharge of their official duties will be exempted from such provisions.

Now, the prior sanction of the state government will also be required for publishing any article in media or any book. “However, no government sanction will be required if such publication is through a publisher is purely literary, artistic or of scientific character,” the rules asserted.

Meanwhile, even if the government sanction had been given, the government employee will not criticise the government policies before any inquiry conducted by any person, committee or authority. On the other hand, these rules will not apply to the evidence given at any inquiry before an authority appointed by the government, Parliament or state legislature. These rules will also not apply to evidence in judicial inquiry and the department inquiry.