The West Bengal government has issued a stringent new directive for senior bureaucrats and government employees, warning against unauthorised comments to the media, social media posts, and leakage of official information. The order, circulated by Chief Secretary Manoj Agrawal, has been sent to all state departments, commissioners, district administrations and police units with instructions for “strict implementation.”
According to the directive, government employees will no longer be allowed to share departmental information, internal discussions or administrative documents without prior approval from the competent authority. Officials have also been cautioned against making public remarks that could be interpreted as personal opinions on government functioning or policy matters.
“Complete prohibition, except with prior sanction, on participation or association of any government employee in sponsored or privately produced media programmes, or media programmes sponsored by the Government of India but produced by outside agencies,” the notice said.
Nabanna indicated that the move comes after repeated complaints regarding officials speaking to the media, posting opinions online and allegedly allowing sensitive administrative information to circulate outside government channels.
“Complete prohibition on government employees making any adverse criticism of policies or decisions of the Central or State Government through: Publications, Interactions, Public statements, Broadcasts, Media contributions,” it added.
The circular reportedly stresses that all departments must ensure the guidelines are communicated down the administrative chain “without delay.”
The Personnel and Administrative Reforms (PAR) Department has also reinforced that departmental heads will be held responsible for ensuring compliance with the new norms. Similar recent instructions from the state government have focused on protecting official files and preventing unauthorised copying or scanning of government records.
Political observers see the latest order as part of a broader attempt to tighten administrative discipline and control information flow within the state bureaucracy. Critics, however, are likely to raise concerns over increased monitoring of bureaucrats’ interaction with the press and public discourse.
