Freedom of expression to Govt employees – Rajya sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3760
ANSWERED ON-25.07.2019
ANSWERED ON-25.07.2019
Freedom of expression to Government employees
3760 . Shri A. Vijayakumar
(a) whether Government employees have been given freedom of expression as per Government manual;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Government employees can not
participate in any form of debate/write-ups/other public activities
beyond office hours; and
(d) if so, the reasons therefor?
(d) if so, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY
OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN
THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (d): It is mentioned that as per
Rule 8 of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, no Government
servant shall, except with the previous sanction of the Government, own
wholly or in part, or conduct or participate in the editing or
management of, any newspaper or other periodical publication or
electronic in a public media. Further, Rule 9 of Central Civil Services
(Conduct) Rules provides inter-alia that no Government servant shall
make any statement of fact or opinion in any form of communication, (i)
which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent
policy or action of the Central Government or a State Government or (ii)
which is capable of embarrassing the relations between the Central
Government and the Government of any State or (iii) which is capable of
embarrassing the relations between the Central Government and the
Government of any foreign State; subject to exceptions for bonafide
expression of views by office-bearers of a trade union or association of
Government servants for the purpose of safeguarding the conditions of
service of such Government servants or for securing an improvement
thereof or for views expressed by a Government servant in his official
capacity or in the due performance of the duties assigned to him.
*****