Stop posting service related issues on social media: Odisha govt to its employees

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today asked its employees to refrain from posting service related issues on social media. In a letter to Secretaries of different departments, the General Administration Department’s Principal Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said all Government employees, including contractual must be advised to desist from use of social media for ventilating service related issues.

The letter added using social media for the service related grievances and making reference to higher authorities contravenes official conduct and is construed as deliberate misconduct, which entails major penalty proceedings under the provisions of the Orissa Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1962.

“A Government servant, whether regular or contractual, is required to move service related grievances only through the Controlling authority for consideration of the appointing authority (outlined as proper channel) and through no other extraneous means,” it added.

The advisory also imposed restriction for Government servants from writing articles and releasing statements in print / electronic media on the subjects that are critical of the Government.

The Rule 7 of the Odisha Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1959 especially prohibits Government servants from making any communication in the public, press or media regarding policy or action of the State, the letter mentioned.

It further said the Rule 23 stipulates that “No Government servant shall bring or attempt to bring any influence whether official or non-official to bear upon any authority to further his interests in respect of matters pertaining to his appointment under Government, promotion, pay & other service conditions.”