Para 59 — CSMOP
Original Rule Text
59. Use of restrictive classification for printed reports etc. –
(i) The restrictive classification „For official use only‟ will not be assigned to any printed report, pamphlet or compilation, unless it contains information disclosure of which would not be in the public interest. In doubtful cases, the test that may be usefully applied is whether the publication, whose circulation is proposed to restrict to official use only, is such that the Minister would be justified in refusing to lay it before the Parliament.
(ii) No official publication (including in electronic form) shall be marked `For official use only' except with the prior approval of the branch officer, who shall obtain the orders of the Secretary or Minister in cases of doubt.
- CHAPTER XI
# CHECKS ON DELAYS
What This Means
Para 59 controls the use of the label 'For Official Use Only' on printed government documents, reports, pamphlets, and compilations — including those in electronic form. The rule states that this label must not be applied to any publication unless disclosing it to the public would genuinely not be in the public interest. It should not be used routinely as a matter of habit or caution.
A practical test is provided: if the Minister would be justified in refusing to table the document in Parliament, then restricting its circulation to official use only may be appropriate. If the Minister would not be able to justify refusing to table it — i.e., the document is essentially a public interest document — then the 'For Official Use Only' label is inappropriate.
No official publication — whether printed or electronic — may be marked 'For Official Use Only' without the prior approval of the Branch Officer. If the Branch Officer is uncertain, they must take the orders of the Secretary or Minister. This prevents junior officials from marking documents confidential out of convenience or excessive caution.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- 1Do not mark publications 'For Official Use Only' unless disclosure would genuinely not be in the public interest.
- 2The test: would the Minister be justified in refusing to table it before Parliament? If yes — restricted. If no — it should not be restricted.
- 3No publication (print or electronic) may be marked 'For Official Use Only' without the Branch Officer's prior approval.
- 4The Branch Officer must obtain Secretary/Minister approval in doubtful cases.
- 5This rule prevents routine over-classification of documents as 'official use only'.
- 6The rule covers both physical printed publications and digital/electronic publications.
Practical Example
A Ministry of Agriculture Section prepares an annual compilation of State-wise crop production statistics. A dealing hand routinely marks the draft cover 'For Official Use Only'. The Section Officer reviews this and asks: is there any reason this data cannot be shared with the public? The data is collected from public sources and there is no national security or policy sensitivity involved. Applying the Para 59 test — the Minister would not be justified in refusing to table it — the SO removes the 'For Official Use Only' marking and directs that the document be published on the Ministry's website. A separate compilation containing advance estimates not yet publicly announced is correctly marked 'For Official Use Only' with Branch Officer approval, since premature release would affect commodities markets.
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.