Vindication of the actions of Government servants – going to press without permission of the Government

(7) Vindication of the actions of Government servants – going to press without permission of the Government

The staff side of the National Council (JCM) had recently suggested that the provisions contained in Rule 19 (1) of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, should be amended suitably to allow Unions or Associations of Government Employees whose activities were maligned in the Press to vindicate themselves, without obtaining the previous sanction of the Government.

This matter was discussed in the meeting of the Committee of the National Council set up to consider the suggestions of the staff side for amending the Conduct Rules. While the suggestion that the rule should be so amended that individual employees are enabled to go to the Press to vindicate their position without prior permission was not favoured, it was decided to issue further instructions to provide that Government should take significant or positive steps in the circumstances where the adverse criticism of Government employees in public was found to be based on wrong premises.

As the Ministry of Finance etc., are aware, instructions regarding action to be taken in the event of allegations against Government servants in the Press are contained in the them Ministry of Home Affairs (now Department of Personnel and Training) Office Memorandum No. 25/32/54-Estt. (A) dated the 8th January, 1959 (Decision No. 3). Attention is particularly invited to para 3 to this Office Memorandum. It is considered that the provisions contained therein should be invoked where it is found on an enquiry that the allegations in the Press against individual Government servant are based on ignorance, insufficient information or even malice.

It is requested that the contents of this Office Memorandum may be brought to the notice of all concerned.

[DP&AR OM No. 11013/21/76-Estt. (A), dated 24.02.1977]