Code of Conduct for Civil Servants

General Studies Paper 2

Context: There are some basic rules a civil servant needs to follow, and the limitations they are placed under.

Civil Services

• There are three All India Services (governed by Article 312 of the Indian Constitution)– the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service and the Indian Forest Service – which are selected by the central government with officers allotted to various state cadres.
• Other services are called Central Civil Services.These services are under the central government itself with no state cadre system.
  • They include services such as the Indian Foreign Service, the Indian Revenue Service, Customs and Central Excise Service and several others.

About the Rules

• There are two sets of rules for civil servants – one for All India Services and the other for Central Civil Services.Specially designed Conduct Rules govern an officer’s behavior and conduct.
• The AIS Conduct Rules, 1968 and CCS Conduct Rules, 1964 are mostly similar. These were framed based on recommendations from a committee constituted by then Minister of Home Affairs Lal Bahadur Shashtri in 1962.

Rules

• Maintaining Integrity: Every member of the Service shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of a member of the Service.
  • Rule 4(1) of the AIS Conduct Rules is more specific. It states, “No member of the Service shall use his position or influence directly or indirectly to secure employment for any member of his family with any private undertaking or Non- Government Organisation.”
• Assist Political Parties: No member of the Service shall bea member or associated with any political party or any organization which takes part in politics.
  • No member of the Service shall canvas or otherwise interfere with, or use his influence in connection with, or take part in, an election to any legislature or local authority.
• Expressing personal opinion: Rule 7 of AIS Rules states, “No member of the Service shall, in any radio broadcast or communication over any public media or in any document published anonymously, pseudonymouslyor in his own name make any statement of fact or opinion,— Which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the Central Government or a State Government.
• Taking dowry and Gifts: No member of the Service shall— (i) give or take or abet the giving or taking of dowry; or (ii) demand, directly or indirectly, from the parents or guardian of a bride or bridegroom, as the case may be, any dowry.
  • A member of the service may accept gifts from his near relatives or from his  personal friends having no official dealings with them, but shall make a report to the Government if the value of such gift exceeds Rs.25,000.
• Penalty:Transgressions can attract two kinds of penalties — major and minor. Major penalties can include “dismissal” from the service as well.