Maharashtra govt directs civil servants to treat MPs, MLAs, MLCs with respect and courtesy

The Maharashtra government on Monday issued revised guidelines directing civil servants to treat Members of Parliament and legislators with respect and courtesy while warning that officials who fail to comply could face disciplinary actionThe order was issued by the General Administration Department GAD under Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal It follows strong displeasure expressed by the Assembly Privileges Committee on September 1 over what it described as inadequate implementation of earlier directions issued in November 2025 and April 2026The revised guidelines cover the conduct of government officials while dealing with MPs MLAs and MLCs as well as procedures for handling their correspondence meetings and participation in official functionsOfficials told to assist MPs and legislatorsUnder the new directions government officials have been asked to maintain respectful conduct while interacting with MPs MLAs and MLCs including during telephone conversationsOfficials have also been instructed to listen to representations made by lawmakers and provide necessary assistance when they visit government officesThe guidelines however specify circumstances in which the special protocol will not apply Officials are not required to stand up or offer formal greetings when a legislator visits an office as an accused appellant or party in a criminal or legal caseThe same provision applies when a legislator visits a government office for electionrelated administrative work including the filing or scrutiny of nomination papers In such circumstances the legislator is to be treated in the same manner as an ordinary citizen according to the orderSeparate register for lawmakers correspondenceThe government has also laid down procedures for handling letters and representations received from lawmakersAll correspondence received from MPs MLAs and MLCs is required to be entered in a separate register or in the VIP section of the eoffice system A final written response should ordinarily be issued within two months and signed by the designated authorityDepartment heads have been directed to review pending correspondence every three months to ensure that representations from lawmakers do not remain unresolved for extended periodsThe guidelines also provide for dedicated interaction time between lawmakers and fieldlevel officials Such officials have been asked to reserve two hours on the first and third Thursday of every month for MPs and legislators to meet them and review local development worksLawmakers to be invited to government functionsThe designated meeting facility will be in addition to regular public visiting hours The order also allows lawmakers to meet officials at other times during office hours in urgent casesThe government has further directed officials to formally invite local and statelevel MPs MLAs MLCs mayors and Zilla Parishad chiefs to government functions These include foundationstone laying ceremonies and inauguration eventsOfficials have been instructed to ensure that protocol arrangements and seating are properly followed at such functions The correct spelling of lawmakers names is also to be verified through the Resident Deputy CollectorThe government has further advised that official functions should generally not be scheduled while the state Assembly or Parliament is in session If an event cannot be avoided during a session it should preferably be held on a nonsitting dayInformation to be provided for legislative dutiesThe revised guidelines also address requests for publicinterest information and data from lawmakersGovernment officials have been directed to provide such information free of cost to MPs MLAs and MLCs to assist them in discharging their parliamentary and legislative responsibilities However the provision remains subject to exemptions under Section 81 of the Right to Information ActThe government said compliance with the revised directions would be monitored through the prescribed administrative mechanismsDisciplinary action for noncomplianceThe order warns that officials who fail to follow the guidelines could face disciplinary proceedingsSuch action may be initiated against negligent officials under the applicable Maharashtra Civil Services Rules and the Maharashtra Government Servants Regulation of Transfers and Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act 2005With inputs from PTI