Adherence to rules is the path to success

It is natural for the Government to issue various orders regarding the welfare of its employees. Similarly, to govern the conduct of employees, the AP Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 came into force.  Following the formation of Telangana state, these rules were adopted as the Telangana State Civil Services(Conduct)Rules, 1964 and are currently being implemented. These rules define what government servants (employees) should and should not do.

Who is the government employee?

A government employee refers to any person who is a member of the Telangana State Civil Services or holds any Civil Post under the state. These rules apply to the employees whether they are on duty, under suspension, on leave, or serving within or outside the state.  Indirectly these rules also apply to the employees family members including the spouse, children and others.

Key restrictions and guidelines:  

1.    Personal and Ethical conduct

A.    Family responsibility: Neglect of parents, wife and children is deemed  unbecoming of a government servant and it can be a ground for disciplinary action. 

B.     Private life: If the government ignores crimes committed by officials in their private lives, the moral prestige of the administration falls. The government expects          a specific code of conduct in both professional and personal life.

C.    Illegal gratification: An official has no freedom to amass wealth through illegal gratifications, even if given voluntarily.

2.   Defining misconduct & corruption: Unbecoming conduct:  It includes impolite attitude, disobedience, lack of dignity, laziness, corrupt habits, evasion of responsibility and other acts deemed unfit for a government servant. 

Misconduct: It involves abuse of power, criminal neglect. It is a willful violation of established law with a wrongful intent rather than a simple error in judgment. 

Rules on Associations and Property Associations: No employee should be associated with any organization that aims to disrupt the sovereignty, integrity of India or public peace. 

Strikes: Participating in strikes are unauthorized. Absent from duty is prohibited. Employees must not resort to hunger strikes without prior permission/ intimation of the Government.

Gifts: Acceptance of gifts is prohibited, except for low value gifts from personal friends during occasions like weddings and ceremonial functions.

Property declarations:

Except for Last Grade (Class IV service), every employee must submit a statement of their immovable and movable assets at the time of initial appointment. Subsequently, a declaration of all property transactions viz ,  purchase, sale, inheritance, lease made by the employee or their family members must be submitted by January 15th every year.

Violating these rules, negligence or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action under the TS civil services. CCA rules 1991. 

- C. Manohar Rao, Retired Government Official