Bihar officials restrained from carrying mobile phones at meetings

In an unprecedented move, the Bihar government on Thursday issued orders prohibiting its officials from carrying mobile phones at 'high-level' meetings, according to a government circular.

"It has often been noticed that while attending high-level meetings, officials keep talking over mobile phones. This prevents the meetings from proceeding smoothly," the circular released by the Nitish Kumar government read.

"After due consideration, it has been decided that at high-level meetings, carrying of mobile phones will henceforth be banned," it added. The circular is signed by Aamir Subhani, the principal secretary of general administration department in Bihar.

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In view of it, no official will be allowed to carry their mobile phones in crucial meetings chaired by the chief minister, department ministers, chief secretary, development commissioner and other senior officials.

In early June, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy directed all officials and government staff not to use mobile phones during his meetings in order to avoid hindrance in smooth conduction of the meetings.

In 2017, a group of officials were seen playing games and using internet on their phones while attending a seminar addressed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and then Director General of Police PK Thakur.

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The Prime Minister’s Office had in 2016 also banned mobile phones in Cabinet meetings to prevent officials from leaking confidential information outside.