GENERAL ADMINISTRATION (SC.D) DEPARTMENT
Memo.No.866/SC.D/96-2 Dated : 08-08- 1996
Sub: Criticism of Government in the Press by Heads of Departments and Other government Officials - Need to curb the tendency - Instructions - Issued.
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According to the existing Rules and Procedures in practice, Government are competent to effect transfer of Officials at certain levels and it 637 may not be possible for the Government to accept in toto all the proposals of the Heads of Department. While this is so, recently, it has come to the notice of Government that a particular Head of the Department, having sent proposals to the Government for transfers and posting of certain officials in his department, has gone to the press criticising the Government for not accepting his proposals in toto. The news reports, in the matter, are distorted and appear to give a different view in the minds of the general public as though the government and Heads of Departments are two different entities and whenever transfers and postings proposals of Heads of Departments are deferred such actions of the Government are attributable to some ulterior motives. The action of the Head of the Department in having gone to the Press has put the Government in an embarrassing position. The concerned Head of the Department was clearly at fault in that instance.
2. Engineered public debates in the media by the Officials in the Government will in the long run subvert the administrative norms and discipline and this tendency needs to be curbed forthwith.
3. It may not be out of place to mention that any adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the Government-by-Government Officials would attract Conduct Rules and such actions of violations of Rules on the part of the Officers would be viewed seriously and action initiated accordingly.
4. They are requested to acknowledge receipt of this Memo. immediately.
M.S. RAJAJEE
Chief Secretary to Government
OPEN - Conduct Rules - References (open)
