Adherence to rules is the path to success
This article explains the Telangana State Civil Services Conduct Rules 1964, outlining duties, ethics, and restrictions for employees. It highlights misconduct definitions, property norms, and prohibitions to ensure integrity, discipline, and accountability in public service
By C Manohar Rao, Retired Government Official
It is natural for the Government to issue various orders regarding the welfare of its employees. Similarly, to govern the conduct of employees, the AP Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 came into force. Following the formation of Telangana state, these rules were adopted as the Telangana State Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and are currently being implemented. These rules define what government servants (employees) should and should not do.
Who is the government employee?
A government employee refers to any person who is a member of the Telangana State Civil Services or holds any Civil Post under the state. These rules apply to the employees whether they are on duty, under suspension, on leave, or serving within or outside the state. Indirectly these rules also apply to the employees family members including the spouse, children and others.
Key restrictions and guidelines
The conduct rules impose certain restrictions on employees regarding.. participation in politics and elections, joining or farming associations, demonstrations and strikes, connections with the press and radio, criticizing the Government, sale of movable and immovable property, restrictions on private business and employment investing, lending and borrowing, subscription collections and acceptance of gifts, public demonstrations, canvassing for outside influence, Bigamy and consumption of intoxicants.
The ultimate goal of these restrictions is to improve the standards of government service. The relationship between the government and its employee is considered that of a master and servant. An employee is expected to maintain reasonable and polite behavior and must not bring disrepute to his service through misconduct.
1.Personal and Ethical conduct
A. Family responsibility:
Neglect of parents, wife and children by an employee is deemed unbecoming of a government servant and it can be a ground for disciplinary action.
B. Private life
If the government ignores crimes committed by officials in their private lives, the moral prestige of the administration falls. The government expects a specific code of conduct in both professional and personal life.
C. Illegal gratification
An official has no freedom to amass wealth through illegal gratifications, even if given voluntarily.
D. Essential principles for every employee
1. Devotion to duty.
2. Absolute integrity, discipline, impartiality and sense of property.
3. Avoidance of any act un becoming of an employee or harmful to the government’s reputation.
4. Conduct that does not compromise their official position.
5. Exercise of best judgment in duties, except when following specific directions from a superior in good faith.
6. Integrity: maintaining honesty, sincerity and purity of character.
Defining misconduct and corruption
Unbecoming conduct: It includes impolite attitude, disobedience, lack of dignity, laziness, corrupt habits, evasion of responsibility and other acts deemed unfit for a government servant. Misconduct:
This is more than mere negligence. It involves mismanagement, abuse of power, criminal neglect. It is a willful violation of established law with a wrongful intent rather than a simple error in judgment. It covers any behavior that disqualifies a person from their post or hinders administration.
Moral terpitude:
An act that is base or contrary to the accepted social and customary rules of behavior. Corruption:
The illegal or selfish use of a public officer’s power and influence.
Rules on Associations and Property Associations:
No employee should be associated with any organization that aims to disrupt the sovereignty, integrity of India or public peace.
Strikes: Participating in strikes are unauthorized. Absent from duty is prohibited. Employees must not resort to hunger strikes without prior permission/ intimation of the Government.
Gifts: Acceptance of gifts is prohibited, except for low value gifts from personal friends during occasions like weddings and ceremonial functions.
Property declarations: Except for Last Grade (Class IV service), every employee must submit a statement of their immovable and movable assets at the time of initial appointment. Subsequently, a declaration of all property transactions viz , purchase, sale, inheritance, lease made by the employee or their family members must be submitted by January 15th every year.
Violating these rules, negligence or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action under the TS civil services. CCA rules 1991. While there are certain exemptions subject to specific conditions. These rules are established to ensure that every employee remain diligent and maintain high integrity in their duties.
