Bureaucrats now cannot criticize the govt on social media

The government has come up with a new draft rules allowing bureaucrats to freely participate on social media websites but at the same time they will not be allowed to criticise the Government in any way.

However, these days the bureaucrats use social media tools  like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn but till date there is no policy which governs this aspect formally.

Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued draft rules which bar officers from making “criticism of government” on television, social media or any other communication application by any means including a “caricature”.

According to this proposed rule, civil servants are allowed to accept simple and inexpensive entertainment events arranged by public bodies or institutions. But again, they will have to declare before the Government details of household equipment, automobiles or any other means of conveyance if their value exceed two months basic pay.

These changes are now part of the proposed changes in All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968,  which are applicable to three all India services--Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service.