Kerala curbs on staff creativity stir row

The order has specifically asked the employees to seek prior approval from the head of the department before taking part in programmes in private radio and television channels, including game and reality shows.

Those who write books and research articles should get the prior sanction of the authorities. They have to give an undertaking that they would not get profit from their books and also that it would not contain anything against the government policy or national interest.

The name of the publishers and the person who writes the forward for the book should be informed to the government before submitting them for publication.

Mr Achuthanandan said in a statement that the CM was following in the footsteps of the RSS and Sangh Parivar by issuing such an order.

“This is a clear case of fascism. If the or-der imposing censorship on employees’ creative works is not withdrawn, the Opposition will launch an agitation,” he said.

Kerala School Teacher Association (KSTA) general secretary K.C. Harikrishnan said that the order proved that the government did not want any criticism against it.

“There are many employees who have been into various creative works. The move proves that the state is also not free from the intolerance which is prevailing in the country,” he said.

Kerala Secretariat Employees Association general secretary M.S. Bijukuttan said that the order was part of the move to curb the freedom of employees and that the government had no confidence in its employees.