‘Staff, individuals depending on them can not critisize authorities’: Admin in new tips for social media utilization in Kashmir

Jammu Kashmir admin has repeated it’s directions on utilization of social media asking its workers to not criticize any authorities insurance policies.

“An elaborate set of tips concerning use of social media by authorities workers have been notified for strict adherence/compliance vide Authorities Order No. 1646-JK(GAD) of 2017 dated 26.12.2017. Additional, the provisions referring to the problem integrated within the Jammu and Kashmir Staff Conduct Guidelines, 1971, are excerpted herein: (i) Sub-rule (3) of Rule 13: “(3) No Authorities worker shall, by any utterance, writing or in any other case talk about or criticize in public or in any assembly of any affiliation or physique any coverage pursued or motion taken by the Authorities nor shall he in any method take part in any such dialogue or criticism,” reads a round.

“Rule-18: Criticism of Authorities. – No Authorities worker shall, in any radio broadcast or in any doc revealed in his personal identify or anonymously, psuedonymously or within the identify of every other individual or in any communication to the press or in any public utterance make any assertion of reality or opinion: (i) which has the impact of an opposed criticism of any present or latest coverage or motion of the Authorities of India, Authorities of Jammu and Kashmir or every other State Authorities; (ii) which is able to embarrassing the relations between the Authorities of Jammu and Kashmir and the Authorities of India or the Authorities of every other State in India; or (iii) which is able to embarrassing the relations between the Authorities of India or the Authorities of Jammu and Kashmir and the Authorities of any international State: Supplied that nothing on this rule shall apply to any statements made or views expressed by a Authorities worker in his official capability or in due efficiency of the duties assigned to him.”

“Apart from, the related authorized framework that governs the social media customers generally and conduct guidelines which over-see the staff’ conduct in private {and professional} life are enumerated as beneath: (1) Article 19(2) of the Structure of India, which offers with the best to freedom of speech, additionally imposes cheap restrictions, reproduced as beneath:

“Nothing in sub clause (a) of clause (1) shall have an effect on the operation of any current legislation, or stop the State from making any legislation, in as far as such legislation imposes cheap restrictions on the train of the best conferred by the mentioned sub clause within the pursuits of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the safety of the State, pleasant relations with international States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of courtroom, defamation or incitement to an offence.” (2) The Jammu and Kashmir Authorities Staff (Conduct) Guidelines, 1971: These guidelines are relevant to all of the Authorities workers of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and provides particulars on the conduct that’s anticipated of the staff of their private in addition to skilled life. The principles record out the actions that aren’t to be carried out by the staff and violation of the conduct guidelines may be punished beneath rule 30 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Companies (Classification, Management and Attraction) Guidelines, 1956,” reads the round.

“The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Companies (Classification, Management and Attraction) Guidelines, 1956: Rule 30: Punishment The next penalties might, for good and adequate motive and as hereinafter offered, be imposed upon members of a service, particularly (i) Censure; (ii) high quality not exceeding one month’s pay; (iii) withholding of increments and/or promotion; (iv) discount to a decrease put up and/or a decrease time-scale and/or to a decrease stage in time-scale; (v) restoration from pay of the entire or a part of any pecuniary loss triggered to Authorities by negligence or breach of orders; (vi) Untimely retirement on proportionate pension aside from that laid out in rule 226 (2) of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Laws. (vii) removing from the service of the State which doesn’t disqualify from future employment; (viii) dismissal from the service of the State which ordinarily disqualifies from future employment. Regardless of the aforementioned elaborate tips and governing authorized framework, it has been noticed that authorities servants typically interact themselves with social media in a fashion which is in contravention to those guidelines. Whereas utilizing completely different social media platforms like Fb, Twitter, Instagram, and so forth. or On the spot Messaging functions like WhatsApp, Telegram and so forth., workers have been seen to air disparaging views on topics that they’re expressly barred beneath guidelines to remark upon. Staff have been seen to remark or act or behave in a fashion that doesn’t conform to the appropriate requirements of official conduct, as envisaged within the aforementioned tips and the foundations. Such actions vary from unauthorised communication of official data and/or dissemination of patently mistaken or deceptive data, airing of political or communal views and so forth. beneath their actual or assumed identities,” reads the order, accessed by The Kashmiriyat.

“In view of the foregoing, it has been felt expedient to reiterate the principle options of tips already notified concerning use of social media for compliance by the federal government workers: i. Staff, instantly or not directly, shall not publish, put up or launch any data on social media that’s thought-about confidential or that’s not meant for public dissemination, nor shall they cross any official doc or any half thereof to any Authorities worker or any such individual to whom he isn’t approved to speak such doc or data. ii. No Authorities worker shall, by way of any put up, tweet or in any other case, talk about or criticize on social media, any coverage pursued or motion taken by the Authorities, nor shall he/she, in any method, take part in any such dialogue or criticism on social media pages/communities/ microblogs. iii. No Authorities worker shall put up, tweet or share content material that’s political or anti-secular and communal in nature or subscribe to pages, communities or twitter handles and blogs of such nature. iv. No Authorities worker shall himself/herself or by way of any individual depending on him/her for upkeep, or beneath his care or management, undertake any such exercise on social media which is, or tends instantly or not directly to be, subversive of the Authorities as by legislation established within the Nation on within the Union territory. v. A Authorities worker might, for the aim or eradicating misapprehensions, correcting mis-statements, and refuting disloyal and seditious propaganda, defend and clarify to the general public the coverage of Authorities in his posts and tweets on social media. vi. Authorities workers shall not put up on social media, any such content material or feedback about co-workers or people, which might be vulgar, obscene, threatening, intimidating or that violate the conduct guidelines or workers. vii. No Authorities worker shall put up grievances pertaining to their office on social media within the type of movies, posts, tweets or blogs or in every other type, however will observe the already established channels of grievance redressal current within the departments. viii. Authorities workers shall not bask in sharing/partaking in so­referred to as giveaways and contests on social media platforms, which are literally scams in disguise, as they may unknowingly unfold malware or trick folks into freely giving delicate knowledge by sharing it on their profiles. It’s, nonetheless, clarified that the above tips will not be supposed to dissuade workers/departments from utilizing social media for constructive and constructive functions.”

“It’s accordingly enjoined upon all workers working in numerous authorities departments/PSUs/Companies/Boards/Autonomous Our bodies and so forth. to strictly adhere to the rules and authorized rules reproduced herein above and issued vide Authorities Order ibid., and chorus from indulging in unwarranted debates/discussions and sharing/commenting/posting inappropriate posts/content material on social media platforms. Violation of those tips/guidelines shall tantamount to misconduct and invite disciplinary motion in opposition to the delinquent official beneath the related guidelines,” reads the round.

“All Administrative Secretaries/Deputy Commissioners/Heads of Departments/Managing Administrators shall instantly proceed in opposition to the staff working of their departments/workplaces who’re discovered to have violated the aforesaid tips and guidelines, when it comes to the related disciplinary framework. Additional, in case of a violation dedicated on a bunch platform, the ‘Administrator’, if they’re serving authorities/semi-government workers, shall even be answerable for disciplinary proceedings,” reads the round additional.