Freedom of expression to Govt employees – Rajya sabha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3760
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?

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.

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Source: Rajya sabha