Oral orders on behalf of or from Minister:

21. Oral orders on behalf of or from Minister:- (i) Whenever a member of the personal staff of a Minister communicates to any officer an oral order on behalf of the Minister, it shall be confirmed by her/him in writing, immediately thereafter. (ii) If any officer receives oral instructions from the Minister or from her/his 14 personal staff and the orders are in accordance with the norms, rules, regulations or procedures they should be brought to the notice of the Secretary (or the head of the department where the officer concerned is working in or under a non-secretariat organization). (iii) In all cases of oral/orders which are not in accordance with the norms, rules, regulations or procedures, clear orders from the Secretary (or the head of the department in case she/he is working in or under a non-secretariat organization) should be sought about the line of action to be taken, stating clearly that the oral instructions are not in accordance with the rules, regulations, norms or procedures. (iv) In rare and urgent cases when the Minister is on tour/is unwell and the approval has to be taken urgently on telephone, the decision of the Minister shall be conveyed by the Private Secretary. In such cases, confirmation of Minister shall be obtained, subsequently at the earliest.