Code of Conduct

·         A set of instructions designed to regulate the actions of stakeholders.

·         These are the specific rules and guidelines that stakeholders are expected to follow.

·         Formed to deal with day to day issues

·         Conduct rules apply to both official and personal life of the government servant.

·         If an official violates conduct rules, he may face warning/disciplinary action/departmental proceedings.

·         Conduct rules differ from service to service. Example All India services have their own conduct rules, central services have their own rules and state services have their own rules.

 

Key Provisions and Guidelines of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968:

 

Integrity and Honesty:

 

·         Government servants are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity and honesty in all their official actions and dealings.

·         They should avoid any form of dishonesty, corruption, or unethical behavior.

 

Prohibition of Corruption and Bribery:

 

·         Government servants are strictly prohibited from accepting bribes, gifts, or any form of gratification that may influence their official actions.

·         They must report any instances of corruption or attempted bribery to the appropriate authorities.

 

Political Neutrality:

 

·         Civil servants are required to maintain political neutrality and not engage in any political activity that could compromise their impartiality.

·         They should carry out their duties objectively and without favoritism towards any political party or individual.

 

Confidentiality and Official Secrets:

 

·         Government servants are entrusted with classified information and official secrets, and they must maintain strict confidentiality.

·         They should not disclose or misuse any information that they come across during the course of their duties.

 

Conflict of Interest:

 

·         Government servants should avoid situations that may give rise to a conflict of interest between their personal interests and their official duties.

·         They must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and take appropriate steps to resolve or mitigate them.

 

Outside Employment:

 

·         The rules impose restrictions on government servants engaging in outside employment or taking up additional work that may interfere with their official duties.

·         Prior permission is required for any outside employment, and it should not compromise their integrity, availability, or effectiveness in their official role.

 

Disciplinary Provisions:

 

·         The rules outline the disciplinary procedures to be followed in case of violations of the conduct rules.

·         Penalties for misconduct may include warnings, reprimands, fines, suspension, or termination of service, depending on the severity of the offense.

 

Accountability and Reporting:

 

·         Government servants are accountable for their actions and decisions.

·         They are required to maintain records and submit reports as per the prescribed guidelines and timelines.

 

Upholding Professionalism and Efficiency:

 

·         The rules emphasize the importance of professionalism, competence, and efficiency in the performance of official duties.

·         Government servants are expected to continuously upgrade their skills and knowledge to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.

 

Importance of Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

·         It gives consistent approach in carrying out their responsibilities and making decisions

·         Increases trustworthiness of the civil service

·         To maintain consistent and appropriate behavior towards one another and towards clients

·         To reduce the discretionary power of civil servants

·         To empower the people to question the government

·         Provides ethical framework for employees

·         Remind the organization about core values

·         Better harmony at workplace

·         A form of self regulation by the org; it avoids unnecessary external regulation.

·         Helps the person to act fairly, impartially, judiciously, and to avoid the conflicts of interest

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