Latest news with #AllIndiaServices(Conduct)Rules
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Police officers told not to post photos in uniform on social media
Police officers in Tamil Nadu have been directed not to post their photographs in uniform in social media handles. They have also been told to refrain from sharing confidential information and details of criminal cases in interviews to Television/YouTube channels, podcasts etc in personal capacity. In an order issued to all officers in the rank of Superintendent of Police and above in the State, the Director-General of Police and Head of Police Force Shankar Jiwal said it had come to notice that some officers were posting official matters, including important duties and responsibilities, and their photographs in official uniform, on their personal social media handles. A few officers had given interviews to social media channels in their personal capacity and shared official information relating to cases, victims, accused persons, etc. 'It has also come to the knowledge that some officers attend private functions in official uniform and share sensitive official information,' Mr. Jiwal said and referred to the All India Services (Conduct) Rules and the Tamil Nadu Subordinate Police Officers' Conduct Rules which restrained them from doing so. Mr. Jiwal said going by the conduct rules a police officer invited or intending to participate in a television programme or deliver a broadcast talk should intimate to the government of the particulars relating to the programme or the subject on which he/she proposed to talk. If need be, the entire content to be published should be submitted to the authorities concerned for approval. The DGP said wherever required, approval of senior officers in hierarchy should be obtained by subordinate officers for vetting content and obtaining clearance for participation in private functions and interviews. In case of any violation, action would be taken under the provisions of the conduct rules. 'All officers shall strictly adhere to these instructions and also issue necessary instructions to others within their jurisdiction in this regard,' he said. According to police sources, another advisory was issued asking Commissioners/Superintendents of Police to give short video interviews explaining the content of official press releases issued on various matters.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Karnataka Govt suspends senior IFS officer R Gokul over stand on forest land donated to HMT Ltd in Bengaluru
The Karnataka Government Wednesday suspended a senior Indian Forest Service officer, R Gokul, for allegedly facilitating the handover of forest land worth nearly Rs 14,000 crore, held by the public sector company Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in Bengaluru, to third parties, including private entities. The government issued the suspension order stating that 'in exercise of the powers under Rule 3(1) (a) of the All India Service (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969, Sri R. Gokul, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Director General, EMPRI, Bengaluru, is placed under suspension with immediate effect, pending inquiry.' The reason for Gokul's suspension has been cited as his actions regarding the 'denotification of lands granted to HMT measuring 443 Acres 6 guntas situated at Peenya Jalahalli Plantation'. According to the government order, an interlocutory application was filed by forest officials before the Supreme Court in 2020 'without obtaining the approval of the then minister-in-charge or sanction from the state cabinet' for permission to denotify 443.6 acres of land granted to HMT at the Peenya Jalahalli Plantation. Initially, the state government issued notices to Sandeep Dave, a retired IAS officer and the former additional chief secretary for Forest, Ecology and Environment; Vijay Kumar Gogi, retired IFS officer and the former principal secretary for Forest, Ecology and Environment; Smitha Bijjur, IFS, ex-principal secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment and Gokul. The government has reported receiving replies to the notices from three of the four officers (other than Sandeep Dave) but said that Gokul had written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after receiving his notice 'seeking protection' in an illegal mining case from the 2010 period where he is a key witness against a mafia that was operated by political figures. The IFS officer also did not obtain permission or inform the government when he filed an 'Intervention Application (113311/2025) in the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India against IA (190307/2024 WP (C) 337/1995) filed by the State Government in the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India for withdrawal of the IA (60477/2020 in WP (C) 337/1995) related to the de-notification of lands belonging to HMT Ltd,' said the suspension order. The government order said the conduct of Gokul 'is in violation of Rule 17 of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, and the State Government is prima facie satisfied that it is necessary' to place him under suspension with immediate effect. Last week, Karnataka Minister for Forest and Environment Eshwar Khandre announced that the government had recommended action against two serving IFS officers, one retired IFS officer, and one retired IAS officer for filing of an application in the Supreme Court 'seeking permission for denotification of HMT forest land worth over Rs. 14,000 crore'. 'This plantation is owned by HMT. It is illegal for the organisation to sell to government departments/organisations and private individuals. However, the fact that forest officials did not make any attempt to recover the land and, without even drawing the attention of the Cabinet, submitted an Interim Application (IA) to the Supreme Court seeking denotification in 2020 is a cause for doubt,' Khandre has said. The controversy pertains to 599 acres of land in a plantation in the Peenya Jalahalli region in North Bengaluru, which was declared a forest in 1896 and was later transferred to HMT in the 1960s to create industrial infrastructure through a donation deed by the district collector. In recent years, large portions of the land given to HMT by the forest department for industrial purposes have been used to facilitate major real estate projects through the connivance of state and central government officials. Over the last year, a dispute arose over the land between the Union Heavy Industries Ministry headed by H D Kumaraswamy, who is looking at monetising the land to resuscitate the fortunes of HMT, and the state forest department, which is trying to recover the HMT land by arguing that it remains a forest land. In November last year, the Karnataka Government issued notices to the forest officials concerned over the filing of the IA in the SC on the HMT forest land. In January this year, the state government ordered that since 281 acres of the 599 acres of land donated to HMT is vacant land 'without any building,' the forest department must take possession of the vacant forest land. Over 200 acres of the HMT land in Bengaluru have been handed over to private players and others, even as HMT Ltd has collapsed in the last four decades. One of the major transfers of land happened between 1999 and 2004 when the Congress was in power, leading to the construction of apartment complexes by some of the big real estate developers of Bengaluru.
India Gazette
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Telangana govt issues strict warning to All India Service officers
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], May 21 (ANI): The Telangana government on Wednesday issued a strong warning to All India Services (AIS) officers, instructing them to avoid any public conduct that may be deemed unbecoming of their position. The warning came in a memo dated May 20, 2025, following recent instances of officers reportedly displaying inappropriate behaviour during public meetings and gatherings. The government noted that such behaviour by AIS officers, including IAS, IPS, and IFS officers, had been exposed in various recent events and was damaging the image of the civil services. According to the memo, these actions had 'reflected poorly on All India Services Officers and impacted the image of the service, undermining the public's faith in the individual's ability to serve.' The memo, issued by K Ramakrishna Rao, Chief Secretary to the Government, cited Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, which mandates that 'every Member of Service shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing unbecoming of a Member of the Service.' The Chief Secretary emphasised that AIS officers must maintain high levels of professionalism, integrity, and decorum in their official responsibilities and public appearances. The government clarified that any officer found violating these expectations would be liable for disciplinary action. 'Henceforth, All India Services officers shall refrain from indulging in acts and gestures which are unbecoming of a Member of the Service in public meetings and gatherings. Any Member of Service who is violating the above instructions is liable for disciplinary action,' the memo stated. The order has been circulated to all IAS officers, and sent specifically to the Director General of Police to notify all IPS officers, and to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for IFS officers. The General Administration (SPLC) Department forwarded the memo for strict compliance. (ANI)
India Today
25-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Andhra government asks suspended IPS officer to explain unapproved foreign visits
The Andhra Pradesh government will initiate disciplinary action against suspended IPS officer PV Sunil Kumar for making alleged unauthorised foreign trips during the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government's Secretary K Vijayanand announced the government's decision to begin disciplinary proceedings in an order issued late Thursday. In the order, Vijayanand mentioned that Kumar has been given an opportunity to submit a written defence or appear in person to present his case within the next 30 state government has framed detailed charges against Kumar, which include a statement of misconduct and misbehaviour. The charges pertain to several foreign trips he made without proper approval. The government also demanded Kumar to specifically admit or deny each article of charge and said that if no written statement is filed in his defence or if he fails to appear in person, then action will be taken against him on the basis of the material available on government's investigation reveals that Kumar, during his tenure as the Additional Director General of Police (CID) from October 2019 to January 2023, and later as the Director General of the Andhra Pradesh Disaster Response and Fire Services from March 2023 to June 2024, made multiple unauthorised foreign of the most notable instances involves his visit to Georgia in March 2024, where he was granted permission for casual leave from March 1 to 4. However, Kumar allegedly deviated from the approved itinerary and traveled to the UAE without the necessary clearance. He said this amounts to the violation of several rules under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, the Chief Secretary listed alleged violations during Kumar's visits to Sweden, USA, UK and UAE. He also alleged that Kumar did not even procure permission for some of those the Chief Secretary noted, Kumar had exhibited gross misconduct and indiscipline and acted in a manner 'unbecoming of a government servant', which are leading to the disciplinary Watch IN THIS STORY#Andhra Pradesh
Hans India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Former IPS officer Sunil Kumar may face disciplinary action
Vijayawada: The State government has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against PV Sunil Kumar, IPS., formerly Director General, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response and Fire Services, now under suspension, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Rule 8 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal), Rules, 1969. Chief Secretary K Vijayanand issued orders to this effect on Thursday. PV Sunil Kumar is directed to submit a written statement of defence and also to state whether he desires to be heard in person, within 30 days of receipt of this order. Sunil Kumar is informed that he should admit or deny the charges. The government has noticed that he deviated from the rules of the police department rules and visited other countries without taking consent from the higher authorities. He was informed that if no written statement of defence is filed within the time specified in Para 3 above or if he fails to appear in person before the Competent Authority or otherwise fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of Rule 8 of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 or the orders or directions issued in pursuance of the said Rules, action will be taken against him on the basis of the material available on record, on the ground that he has no explanation to offer. The CS said unauthorised foreign travel by an IPS officer raises serious concerns as their position grants them access to sensitive operational information, intelligence reports, and details of ongoing investigations. Such unauthorized travel to foreign countries is against the interest of national security. Thus, PV Sunil Kumar, now under suspension by his above mentioned acts, exhibited gross misconduct and indiscipline and acted in a manner that is unbecoming of a Government Servant and thereby, violated rules of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968. During his service as Additional Director General of Police and Director General, AP Disaster Response from October 2019 to March 2023, made several foreign visits by deviating from the actual itinerary for which he sought permission of Government and Orders were also issued by Government. He also made some other foreign visits without taking government permission. If Sunil Kumar fails to respond and appear before the authorities, disciplinary action will be initiated against him.
