As per the new rules, government employees are strictly prohibited from criticising the functioning or decisions of the Maharashtra government—or any other government in India—on any public platform. Violations could result in disciplinary action
The rules state that all state government employees, even contractual employees, should "use social media consciously and responsibly". Representational Pic
To tighten control over the use of social media by government staff, the Maharashtra government has issued fresh guidelines cautioning its employees against sharing confidential information or criticising government policies online. The directive, issued by the General Administration Department on Monday, falls under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979.
The circular highlights the growing use of social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, WhatsApp and Telegram, noting that while these tools offer ease of communication, they also pose risks such as leaks of sensitive information and the spread of misinformation, as per the news agency ANI.
As per the new rules, government employees are strictly prohibited from criticising the functioning or decisions of the Maharashtra government—or any other government in India—on any public platform. Violations could result in disciplinary action.
That said, the guidelines do make room for practical communication: apps like WhatsApp and Telegram may still be used for internal coordination and office-related tasks, reported the news agency ANI.
The rules state that all state government employees, even contractual employees, should "use social media consciously and responsibly" and keep their work and personal social media accounts separate.
The state's General Administration Department has clarified that government officers and employees may share updates about successful implementations of schemes or initiatives, but with clear restrictions. Such posts must highlight the scheme itself, not serve as a platform for personal praise or publicity. Additionally, text posts should focus solely on the initiative's impact rather than glorifying individuals.
As per the guidelines, government logos, uniforms, official vehicles, and buildings are prohibited from being displayed in social media photos, except for profile pictures on official accounts, according to the news agency ANI.
According to the notification, the General Administration department has also said that only an authorised person will be allowed to use the official government social media accounts.
The new guidelines will be applicable to officers and employees of the Maharashtra government, including anyone on a contractual basis or by delegation; employees in local bodies, boards, corporations, and public undertakings, as per the news agency ANI.
(With inputs from ANI)
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