Government departments at the Centre and States should desist from engaging private firms in organising or sponsoring official events, the Ministry of Personnel has maintained. The move follows a report from a Parliamentary Committee on ‘Violation of Protocol Norms and Contemptuous Behaviour of Government Officers with Members of lok Sabha.
“Chief Secretaries of all states or union territories are requested to circulate these instructions to all State Govern-ment officials at the State/division and district levels and to periodically review implementation”, the Ministry’s order said. The Members of Parliament and State legislatures, as the accredited representatives of the people, occupy a very important place in our democratic set-up, it said.
Earlier, the Committee headed by MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, in its report has recommended “discouraging and desisting the State Governments to involve private companies/agencies in organising/sponsoring functions which essentially fall under the domain of State Governments”.
Expressing displeasure over this growing trend and urge upon, the Committee has stated that the ministries concerned to issue fresh guidelines to this effect. “The instructions or guidelines on official dealing between the administration and Member of Parliament and State legislature should strictly be complied by all the Government servants, both in letter and spirit,” it said.
Disposing of a complaint by MP M Rajamohan Reddy, the Committee noted the instant case highlights the unhealthy tradition o f private parties organising and sponsoring function for inauguration o f buildings/assets constructed with Government funds.
In his complaint, Reddy had alleged the violation of his protocol by the district administration of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh during the inauguration function of a guest house in Dargamitta. The incident had occurred on June 20, 2015. He alleged that despite being the local MP, he was not invited and his name was not inscribed on the plaque for the said functions.