Participation of Government servants in competitions/events organized by Private companies etc. with the objective of promoting their products.

(14) Participation of Government servants in competitions/events organized by Private companies etc. with the objective of promoting their products.

Instances have come to notice where Government servants participated in competitions and other social events organized by some private companies and organizations with the objective of promoting their business interests. Attention in this regard is invited to the provisions of Rule 15 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 which provides, inter alia, that while a Government servant may undertake honorary work of a social or charitable nature or take part in sports activities as an amateur, he should not, except with the previous sanction of the Government, engage directly or indirectly in any trade or business or take part in the registration, promotion or management of any company or co-operative society etc. for commercial purposes.

2. The social events and competitions promoted by various private companies can be put into different categories;

(i) where the social events are organized purely with an intention to promote the business interests of the company and the competitiveness amongst the participants is not relevant;

(ii) where the competition by way of games and sports are sponsored by private companies and the spirit of the competitiveness amongst the participants is very much evident.

The nature of events referred to in item (i) above are quite distinct from those referred to in item (ii) as in the latter case, it is the competition or the event which remains in the forefront and not the sponsors and as such the involvement of the private companies as sponsors cannot be taken as solely for the purpose of promotion of their business interests.

3. The Government servants are advised not to take part in any competition or social event referred to in item (i) of para 2 organised by private companies or organizations, the primary objective of which is only to promote their business activities or their products, without the prior sanction of the Government. Such a participation without the previous sanction is liable to be construed as a violation of the provisions of Rule 15 of the Conduct Rules. However, the participation in the events referred to in item (ii) of the preceding para does not require any previous sanction of the Government.

[DOPT OM No. 11013/2/89-Estt.(A), dated 28.03.1989]