Rule 11 — CCS Conduct Rules
Original Rule Text
11 Ibid., Rule 4. 12 Ibid., Rule 5(1)–(2). 13 Ibid., Rule 6. 14 Ibid., Rule 7.
Government servants must resolve grievances through official channels rather than resorting to disruptive collective actions. Organizing or inciting others to participate in protests or strikes is a violation of the Conduct Rules and may result in disciplinary action.
This rule is essential for ensuring that government services are uninterrupted and public administration remains effective.
# Rule 8: Connection with the Press or Other Media
Government employees, unless authorized specifically, are restricted from engaging with the press and media in a manner that could misrepresent government policies or compromise official information15 .
A government servant shall not own, manage, or contribute to any newspaper, magazine, or publication that is political or controversial in nature. Employees
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must also not provide public statements, interviews, or media articles on government matters without prior approval.
If a government servant is approached by the press for comments on official matters, they must refer the inquiry to the authorized government spokesperson16 .
Unauthorized disclosures of information, making statements critical of government policies, or sharing official matters on public platforms such as social media may lead to disciplinary action.
This rule ensures that all official communication is properly vetted, accurate, and does not mislead the public or create administrative conflicts.
This chapter establishes the principles of political neutrality and restrictions on public engagement for government employees. By ensuring that government servants do not engage in political activities, participate in demonstrations, or publicly express opinions that may compromise their official roles, the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964, uphold the impartiality and professionalism of public administration.
What This Means
This section covers Rule 7 (continued) on demonstrations and strikes, and Rule 8 on connections with the press and other media. Rule 7 is unequivocal: government servants must not engage in, support, or promote any form of strike, work stoppage, or demonstration that disrupts government operations. This includes go-slow tactics, mass casual leave as a form of protest, sit-ins, and workplace boycotts. The rationale is that the continuity of public services is a constitutional obligation — interrupting it harms citizens who depend on those services. Violations attract disciplinary action and can include dismissal.
Rule 8 governs the relationship between government employees and the media. Unless specifically authorized by the government, a servant must not own, manage, or contribute to any newspaper, periodical, or publication that is political or controversial in nature. They cannot give interviews, make public statements, or share information about official matters with journalists without prior approval. If a media person approaches them, they must refer the inquiry to the authorized government spokesperson. The rule also covers digital media and social media platforms — unauthorized posts about official matters or government policies can constitute a violation.
The policy rationale behind Rule 8 is that the government must speak with a single, vetted voice on official matters to prevent confusion, factual inaccuracies, and misrepresentation of policy positions. Employees who violate this rule expose themselves to disciplinary proceedings, and in serious cases involving classified information, may also face action under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- 1Rule 7 prohibits all forms of strike, demonstration, go-slow, or mass casual leave used as collective pressure tactics.
- 2Participating in or inciting others to join disruptive collective actions is itself a disciplinary offence.
- 3Rule 8 bars employees from owning, editing, or contributing to political or controversial publications without authorization.
- 4Employees must not give media interviews or make public statements on official matters without prior approval.
- 5Media inquiries must be referred to the designated government spokesperson — not handled personally.
- 6Social media posts about official matters or government policies without authorization can violate Rule 8.
- 7Serious violations involving classified information may attract action under the Official Secrets Act in addition to departmental action.
Practical Example
A group of clerks in a government department are unhappy about delayed salary revisions. They organize a sit-in at the department gate and circulate a letter urging colleagues to take mass casual leave on the same day. Three employees who drafted the letter and led the sit-in are served charge memos under Rule 7. The department finds that government services were disrupted and that the employees violated the Conduct Rules by inciting collective action.
Separately, Priya, a deputy director, is passionate about press freedom. She writes a weekly column in a regional newspaper under a pen name commenting on administrative delays in her own department. A tip-off leads the department to identify her. She faces action under Rule 8 because she contributed to a publication on controversial administrative matters without authorization, regardless of the pen name.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.