Code of Conduct & Code of Ethics for Public Servants Dr Awdhesh Singh, IRS (Retd.) Director, Awdhesh Academy, Former Commissioner, Customs & Indirect Taxes (Central Excise/GST)
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Code of Conduct and Code of EthicsDr Awdhesh Singh, IRS
(Retd.)
Director, Awdhesh Academy,
Former Commissioner, Customs & Indirect Taxes (Central
Excise/GST)
‘Code of Ethics’ and ‘Code of Conduct’
• Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct are the standards that a group
must adhere to, so as to remain the member of the
organisation.
• Code of ethics • Set of principles which influence the
judgement
• Describes the core values of the organisation that guides
decision-making.
• Include foundational values like integrity, political neutrality,
and impartiality
• Code of conduct • Set of guidelines that influence employee’s
actions.
• All the members must adhere to these codes,
• Violation of these codes may invite disciplinary action
Conduct Rules for Civil Servants
IAS officer Kannan Gopinath Resigns
IAS officer Shah Faisal resigns
Jharkhand: IAS officer packed off after his dirty dancing in film
goes viral
Centre Asks Bengal To Take Disciplinary Action Against Kolkata Top
Cop under conduct rule
NRI businessman claims he gifted Rs 10 lakhs name suit to PM
Modi
Conduct Rules
• The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 • All civil
employees including those in defence except Railways, AIS,
Public
corporations/ undertakings, Autonomous bodies
• The Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966
AUTHORITY - Article 309 of the Constitution
• Recruitment and conditions of service of persons serving the
Union or a State • “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution,
Acts of the appropriate
Legislature may regulate the recruitment, and conditions of service
of persons appointed, to public services and posts in connection
with the affairs of the Union or of any State”
General
• Maintain at all times-- (i) absolute integrity; (ii) devotion to
duty; and (iii) do nothing which is unbecoming of a Government
employee
• Be Impartial while discharging duties.
• Maintain Political neutrality
• Perform your duties using BEST JUDGEMENT except when acting on
the orders of superior officer
• Orders of Superior officers should be writing. If orders are
oral, it should be converted to writing as soon as possible.
General (Contd.)
• Provide information to citizens under RTI Act, 2005
• Act in accordance with Govt. policies and rules
• No indulgence in any act of sexual harassment/ abuse of any women
at the work place.
Employment of Near Relatives in companies/firms enjoying Govt.
Patronage
• Don’t use your influence to secure employment to your kith and
kin
• Inform the government, if your family member takes an appointment
in a company having official dealing with you
• Don’t award contract to a company/person if any member of your
family is employed there
Taking part in Politics and Elections
• Don’t become a member of a political party or take part in any
political activity
• Don’t canvass or use his influence or take part in an election to
any legislature or local authority
Demonstrations & Strikes
• Do not engage or participate in any demonstration which is •
prejudicial to the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of
India,
• the security of the state,
• friendly relations with foreign States,
• public order, decency or morality, or
• which involves contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an
offence
Connection with Press and Media
• Don’t own or conduct or participate in the editing or management
of, any newspaper or other periodical publication or electronic
media, except in the bonafide discharge of his official
duties
• When publishing a book or participating in a public media, make
clear that the views expressed are your own and not of
government
Criticism of the Government
• Don’t criticize the policies of government at any forum
• Don’t make a statement that can be embarrassing for Central-State
relation or to a foreign state
• You can only express your view in your official capacity or in
the due performance of the duties
Gifts
• Don’t accept or permit any member of your family to accept any
gift with a person with whom you have an official dealing .
• All India Service (IAS, IPS, IFS) officers/Group A officers of
Central Government (IFS, IRS etc.) may accept gifts • from his near
relatives or from his personal friends having no official
dealings
with them, on occasions such as wedding, anniversaries upto Rs
25,000, but report to Government if the value of such gift exceeds
this.
• From other person with official dealing, the gifts permitted is
Rs 5,000.
• Don’t accept lavish or frequent hospitality from any person
having an official dealings with you.
Public demonstrations in honour of Govt. Employee
• Don’t receive any complimentary or valedictory address held in
your honour; or in the honour of any other Government servant
without prior permission of government
• Exceptions : Functions on occasion of retirement, transfer or
resignation
Private trade or Employment
• Without the sanction of government, don’t • Engage directly or
indirectly in any trade or business, or • Negotiate for, or
undertake, any other employment, or • Hold an elective office or
canvass for a candidate or candidates for an
elective office in any body, • Canvass in support of any business
of insurance agency, commission agency,
etc., owned or managed by any member of his family
• Exceptions • Undertake honorary work of a social/ charitable/
literary/ artistic/ scientific
character • Participate in sports activities as an amateur, or •
Take part in the registration, promotion or management of a
literary, scientific or
charitable society/ co-operative society whose activities are
bonafide
Private trade or Employment (Contd.)
• Report to the Government if any member of his family is engaged
in a trade or business or owns or manages an insurance agency or
commission agency.
• Don’t accept any fee for any work done by you for any private or
public body or any private person without the sanction of the
prescribed authority
Investments, Lending & Borrowing
• Don’t speculate in any stock, share or other investment
• Don’t make, or permit any member of his family to make any
investment which is likely to embarrass or influence you in the
discharge of your official duties
Movable & Immovable Property
• Report acquisition or disposal of immovable/movable property
(beyond a specified value) within one month
• Obtain previous sanction if any such transaction is with a person
having official dealings with you
• Submit the details of movable/immovable property held at the time
of joining the service
• File Annual Property Return (APR) every year by 31st
January
Disciplinary Proceedings for violation of Conduct Rules • The
violation of Conduct Rules may invite disciplinary action
against
the officer.
• The violation usually does not amount of corruption or criminal
misconduct and the department itself proceed against the officer
for violation of the conduct rules.
• The officer not following the conduct rule can be charge-sheeted
by the department after conducting the due enquiry.
• Thereafter, he may be given minor or major penalties that can be
in the form or warning or it can even lead to the dismissal of the
government officer from service.
RS demotes deputy director for sharing offensive posts against PM •
In a first, Urujul Hasan, a deputy director of Parliament Security
Service has been
demoted for sharing "offensive, derogatory, demeaning and
sarcastic" posts against PM Narendra Modi, some Union ministers and
chief ministers on social media.
• He was demoted from deputy director (security) to security
officer - a lower rank - for a period of five years.
• Government said the officer had violated rules of conduct and
failed to maintain "political neutrality”.
• Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules bar employees from
indulging in any activity that is considered "unbecoming of a
government servant" besides prohibiting any involvement in
political activities.
• "This penalty means the official will lose nearly 15 years of his
overall seniority in real terms.
Code of Conduct for Ministers
Code of Conduct of the ministers
• The Government of India, Ministers of Home Affairs has issued a
Code of Conduct of the ministers at central as well as state
governments.
1. Business and Interest
• Inform the PM or CM: Declare assets, liabilities and business
interests of self and family
• Dissociate with the conduct and management of a business owned.
Ownership can be retained
• Give up interest and management of a business • Which supplies
goods and services to government
• Depends on licenses, permits, quota, lease et. From
government
2: Prohibition
After taking office, and so long as he remains in office, the
Minister shall: -
• furnish annual declaration regarding his assets and liabilities
to PM/CM
• refrain from buying from or selling to the Government any
immovable property
• refrain from starting, or joining, any business;
• ensure that the family members do not deal with businesses
dependent primarily on grant of licenses, permits, quotas, leases,
etc.,
• Report to PM/CM, if any member of his family sets up, or joins a
business.
3: Restriction on Family Members
• Don’t personally, or through a member of his family, accept
contribution for any purpose
• Don’t associate with the raising of funds except for the benefit
of 1. a registered society, or a charitable body, or an institution
recognised by a
public authority and
4: Restrictions on Accepting Gifts and Awards
• A Minister or his family members should not accept valuable gifts
except from close relatives,
• A Minister may receive gifts when he goes abroad or from foreign
dignitaries in India. Such gifts fall into two categories. •
Symbolic, like a sword of honour, ceremonial robes etc. and which
can be
retained by the recipients.
• Others can be retained by the Minister, if its value is less than
Rs.5,000/-
• If more than Rs 5000, it shall be deposited with Toshakhana
• Minister can buy such gifts, if it exceeds Rs.5,000/- by paying
the difference
5. Conduct on Foreign Tours
• A Minister should while on official tour, as far as practicable
stay in accommodation belonging to himself or maintained by
Government, Government undertakings, public bodies or institutions
or in recognised hotels; and
• Avoid attending, as far as possible, ostentatious or lavish
parties given in his honour.
6. Authority for Enforcement of Code of Conduct • Prime Minister in
the case of Union Ministers,
• Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in the case of Chief
Ministers,
• Chief Minister concerned in the case of State Ministers.
SARC’s Code of Ethics for Public Servants
Importance of Ethical Public Servants
• The civil services are often called the steel frame of
India.
• They are the backbone of the country and their values are often
followed by the common people of India.
• Ethical civil servants are needed for ethical nation.
• Government of India prepared a draft Public Services Bill in 2007
based on Second Administrative Reform Commission (SAARC) that
provided ethical codes for public servants.
SARC’s Recommendation for the Public Servants
• Allegiance to the Constitution and the law, democracy,
nationalism, sovereignty, integrity of India and the security of
the nation;
• Function in an apolitical manner
• Serve as instruments of good governance
• Act objectively, impartially, honestly, equitably, diligently and
in a fair and just manner;
• Act with integrity and in a courteous and transparent
manner;
• Establish high standards, and ensure quality service,
• Be accountable for the decisions
• Uphold the highest ethical standards;
SARC’s Recommendation for the Public Servants (Contd.) • Establish
merit in employment, promotion and placements;
• No discrimination based on caste, community, religion, gender or
class
• Protecting the interest of poor, underprivileged and weaker
sections;
• Ensure that public moneys are used with the utmost economy and
care;
• Provides a workplace that is free from discrimination
• Provides a workplace relations that value communication,
consultation, cooperation
• Reasonable opportunity to all eligible members to apply for
Public Service employment.
Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct for the Ministers • Uphold the
highest ethical standards;
• Uphold the principle of collective responsibility;
• Be accountable to Parliament for the policies, decisions and
actions of their departments
• No conflict between their public duties and their private
interests
• Keep separate their roles as Minister and constituency
member;
Contd.
• Don’t use government resources for party or political
purposes;
• Uphold the political impartiality of the Civil Service
• Use public money with utmost economy and care;
• Serve as instruments of good governance.