Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) has mocked at a circular issued by the Vigilance Department that warns of disciplinary action against those employees taking part in activities against the policies of the government.
The association, further claiming that contents of circular are confusing, has requested to amend or withdraw the circular within a fortnight.
Director Vigilance Sanjeev Dessai issued a circular last month cautioning government servants from indulging in any agitation or campaigns or signing of petitions which amounts to criticism of government under Central Civic Service (Conduct) (CCS) Rule 1964.
In its letter to Vigilance Director, the GGEA, led by John Nazareth, stated, “It appears that you have issued the circular without assessing its implications and thus has become an instrument for criticism of the government in power as it creates an impression that the government of the day is trying to suppress their rights and freedom of government servants and also threatening them of action on filing any petitions in the court of law for seeking justice in conditions of service… This organisation request(s) you to immediately amend or withdraw the circular within 15 days and simultaneously to inform this organisation the reason for issue of such circular which has become a laughing stock.”
“Many government employees and heads of departments are found mocking your circular as it has not made clear whether you or your department will exercise the powers of disciplinary authority entrusted to them being heads of departments/disciplinary authority of the employees under their control…” the letter to Vigilance Department adds.
The Vigilance circular had stated that involvement of government employees in such movement would attract disciplinary action while also mentioning that such conduct of government servants attracts the prohibition/ restriction of Rule 9 of CCS (conduct) Rule 1964.
The CCS (conduct) Rules provides the person by which a government servant can express his or her opinion for consideration of the government. “Accordingly, it is imperative that all government servants adhere to the provisions of the CCS (conduct) Rules scrupulously as a violation of the same will attract disciplinary action,” Dessai said adding, “It is enjoined upon all government servants to stick by Rule and not to get them involved in any agitations or campaigns which amount to criticism of government under the Rule.”
Citing these paras, the GGEA, on behalf of many government employees, has conveyed to the department that contents of the circular were confusing.
