Violation of Employees Conduct Rules viewed seriously
Officials cautioned against creating unwanted issues
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 2: The administration of Union Territory of Ladakh has detected unauthorized information flow and communication of official documents without due approval and unwarranted access to the non-Government functionaries, which amounts to blatant violation of Employees Conduct Rules, 1971 and instructions issued from time to time.
This conduct of the officials has been viewed very seriously by the administration and accordingly fresh instructions have been issued for strict compliance by all the employees failing which departmental action will be taken and penalties imposed.
Rule 12 of the J&K Employees Conduct Rules, 1971 states: “No Government employee shall, except in accordance with any general or special order of the Government or in the performance in good faith of the duties assigned to him, communicate, directly or indirectly, any official document or any part thereof or information to any Government employee or any other person to whom he is not authorized to communicate such document or information”.
Moreover, the Government employees are required to understand that they have responsibilities under the applicable rules of professional conduct which is not limited to conduct in office only but also includes internet or electronic communication.
Vide Circular No.08-LA(GAD) dated September 23, 2020 issued by the General Administration Department of Ladakh Union Territory, all Government employees were impressed upon to observe the Conduct Rules in letter and spirit and do nothing which is unbecoming of a public servant. Moreover, all the Heads of the Departments were asked to ensure prompt action on any violation of Conduct Rules.
However, the Ladakh UT administration has noticed increasing trend among the Government functionaries regarding dissemination of official information without due approval and providing unauthorized access to the non-Government functionaries.
This has been viewed very seriously by the administration of Ladakh UT and in order to place a check on unauthorized information flow and communication of official documents or any part thereof, the Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department of Ladakh UT Ajeet Kumar Sahu has issued fresh instructions for strict adherence by all Government employees.
“The contravention of instructions will invite strict disciplinary action”, read the circular, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
It is pertinent to mention here that any violation of Conduct Rules can lead to departmental action and the penalties provided in Rule 30 of J&K CCA Rules, 1956 can be imposed upon Government employees ranging from censure to dismissal from service.
“Employees must avoid stating, implying or creating the impression that they are communicating in an official capacity on behalf of the department in their personal social media activities in order to avoid creating unwanted issues for the administration”, the GAD Commissioner Secretary said.
All the employees have further been asked not to publish post or release any information on any platform of media that is confidential, not public or any official document or any part thereof or information to any Government employee or any other person to whom he or she is not authorized to communicate such document or information.
“The official accounts of the departments should be secured and gradually all departments must move towards opening their mail accounts on Government approved mail addresses”, the administration said, adding “the access to such official media accounts should be restricted to the authorized officials only”.
All the Under Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, OSDs and supervisory officers in field, Directors and Deputy Commissioners have been asked to personally supervise all such dissemination of official information. “They shall be held personally liable for any such unauthorized sharing/communication of information under rules”, the GAD Commissioner Secretary has made it clear in the circular.
Moreover, all the officers both in the Civil Secretariat and line departments have been told to prepare their own official stamps mentioning their names and designations while endorsing notes, proposals and official communications.
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