TG Govt Warns AIS Officers, State Govt Staff Of Disciplinary Action
The warning comes a day after IAS officer Sharat touched CM's feet in public
Hyderabad:The state government has warned all India Service (AIS) officers and state government employees of disciplinary action if they indulge in acts unbecoming of public servants at public meetings and gatherings. Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao issued orders to this effect on Tuesday, a a day after principal secretary, tribal welfare, A. Sharathi, an IAS officer, touched the feet of Chief Minister A, Revanth Reddy at a public meeting in Nagarkurnool on Monday.
Incidentally, Sharat as collector of Sircilla district had touched the feet of then-Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao in 2021 during the inauguration of an integrated collectorate complex in Sircilla. This incident invited backlash from several quarters then.
After Monday’s incident, Revanth Reddy reportedly expressed severe anger at this and directed Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao to issue strict instructions to AIS officers as well as officials and staff working with state government not to induldge in such acts and that they would face disciplinary action if they violated the rules.
"In recent times, several instances have come to the notice of the government where All India Services officers are indulging in acts and gestures unbecoming of a member of the service in public meetings and gatherings. Such acts and gestures in public reflect poorly on AIS officers and impact the image of the service undermining the public's faith in the individual's ability to serve," the orders stated. Negative publicity of such acts can harm not only the individual's reputation but also that of the government at large, it added.
"Rule 3 (1) of AIS (conduct ) rules, 1968, stipulates that every member of service shall at times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of a member of the service," the orders stated.
All India Services officers are expected to maintain a high level of professionalism, integrity and decorum, both in their official capacity and in public interactions to uphold the trust and confidence of the public they serve, it said.
"Henceforth, All India Services officers shall refrain from indulging in acts and gestures, which are unbecoming of a member of the service, in public meetings and gatherings. Any member of service, who is violating the above instructions, is liable for disciplinary action," the orders warned.
Similar orders were issued in the case of state government officials and staff citing the provisions of Telangana Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964. The CS instructed all the departments of Secretariat and heads of departments to bring these instructions to the notice of all officers and staff working under their administrative control for strict adherence.
