NEW DELHI: The finance ministry has warned
employees of disciplinary action if they criticize the government or its
policies.
The directive assumes significance as
associations representing employees of Central Board of Excise and Customs
(CBEC) are protesting against certain decisions taken by the GST Council led by
finance minister Arun Jaitley on Goods and Services Tax.
"Instructions have been issued in the past
wherein it has been impressed upon all concerned to refrain from commenting
adversely on the government and its policies," the ministry said in a recent
order.
It said failing to comply with its instructions
"may lead to appropriate action (including disciplinary action)".
The instructions cite service rules that bar
any government servant from making any adverse criticism of any policy or action
of the government.
"No government servant shall, in any radio
broadcast, telecast through any electronic media or in any document published in
his own name or anonymously, pseudonymously or in the name of any other person
or in any communication to the press or in any public utterance, make any
statement of fact or opinion which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any
current or recent policy or action of the central government or state
government," reads the service rules.
Certain members of Indian Revenue Service
(Customs and Central Excise), All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted
Executive Officers, All India Central Excise Inspectors' Association and All
India Central Excise and Service Tax Ministerial Officers Association had
recently participated in a symbolic protest to oppose some decisions taken by
the GST Council.
When contacted, President of IRS (Customs and
Central Excise) officers association, Anup Srivastava, said their members are
not adversely commenting on the state's policies by any way.
Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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