Rule 15 — CCS Conduct Rules
Original Rule Text
15 Ibid., Rule 8(1). 16 Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. (2011). OM No. 11013/3/2011-Estt.A. Clarification on media interaction by government employees.
https://www.istm.gov.in/home/css_conduct_rules
17/31
Rule 9: Criticism of Government 23/03/2026, 13:35
Home | Institute of Secretariat Training & Management | Govt. of India
A government servant must not make statements or public expressions that are critical of the government’s present or current policies or actions.
Government employees are prohibited from making statements, writing articles, or expressing views in public forums that question, criticize, or bring disrepute to government policies, actions, or administration. This includes newspapers, television interviews, books, public speeches, and social media platforms18 .
Criticism of government policies may lead to misinterpretation of official decisions, erosion of public confidence, and disruption of administrative discipline. However, government servants may express views on administrative improvements or suggest policy changes through internal government channels or officially permitted discussion forums.
The purpose of this restriction is to display that Government as a whole unit has one voice/view on any present or current policy.
Exceptions to this restriction include cases where employees express their views in scholarly or academic discussions, provided that such opinions do not compromise government integrity or policy execution.
# Rule 10: Evidence Before Committees or Authorities
Government servants must obtain prior permission before appearing as witnesses or providing evidence before any external authority, inquiry committee, or judicial body.
Employees are not permitted to give evidence, make statements, or participate in external investigations that relate to government policies, decisions, or administrative actions unless duly authorized by the competent authority19 .
Exceptions to this restriction include cases where:
The government servant is summoned by a court or statutory authority as a witness. The evidence is presented before an officially designated committee or inquiry body constituted by the government. The employee has received prior approval from the competent authority to provide relevant information.
What This Means
Rules 9 and 10 regulate how government servants express opinions and give evidence. Rule 9 prohibits employees from making public statements, writing articles, giving media interviews, or posting on social media in a manner that is critical of current or existing government policies, decisions, or administration. The restriction is not just about formal press releases — it covers opinion pieces, social media posts, speeches, and book chapters. The government's position is that it must present a unified institutional voice: dissent must go through internal channels, not public platforms.
Rule 9 does allow for limited exceptions. A government servant may express views in scholarly or academic discussions, provided these do not undermine government integrity or obstruct policy execution. The critical test is whether the expression could create public confusion about government policy, erode public confidence, or constitute public rebellion against official direction. Criticism of past policies, historical administrative decisions, or purely academic analysis of administrative systems may fall outside the prohibition depending on context.
Rule 10 deals with appearing as witnesses or providing evidence before external bodies. A government servant must obtain prior written permission from the competent authority before appearing before parliamentary committees, commissions of inquiry, courts, or any other external authority where the testimony would relate to government policies or official conduct. The exception is when a court or statutory body issues a summons — in that case, appearance is mandatory. In all other situations, prior permission is required to ensure that official information is shared only when appropriate and through proper channels.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- 1Rule 9 prohibits all public criticism of current government policies — through media, speeches, social media, or publications.
- 2Even academic papers or books must not undermine policy execution or bring the government into disrepute.
- 3Internal channels (official notes, representations to superiors) are the only permitted avenue for expressing disagreement with policies.
- 4Scholarly analysis of administrative systems may be permissible if it does not compromise government integrity.
- 5Rule 10 requires prior permission before appearing as a witness or giving evidence before any external inquiry or committee.
- 6If summoned by a court or statutory body, appearance is mandatory — but prior departmental intimation is still advisable.
- 7Evidence relating to classified or sensitive government matters requires extra care and additional authorization.
Practical Example
Arvind, a Joint Secretary, is invited to deliver a keynote at a university seminar on urban governance. In his speech, he criticises the current housing policy of his own ministry, calling it 'fundamentally flawed' and suggesting the ministry should have taken a different approach. Even though the audience was academic, and even though Arvind is a domain expert, this violates Rule 9. The criticism is of a current policy, made in a public forum. He could have instead submitted his concerns as an internal policy note.
In another case, a commission of inquiry investigating a procurement scam in a government department asks a dealing assistant, Sunita, to appear and give her account of events. Sunita must first seek written permission from her controlling officer before appearing. She should also inform the department's legal cell. Only if the commission issues a formal summons can she appear without prior departmental permission — even then, she should keep her department informed.
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.