Exit from social media groups engaged in anti-national, divisive agendas or face music, Manipur government tells all employees

They were given 48-hour time till 6 pm of 12 August 2022 to exit from such groups. Failing which appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated against them under relevant legal and applicable conduct Rules provisions, said an office memorandum.

TFM Desk

All the Government officials in Manipur have been directed to exit from Facebook, WhatsApp and other chat groups “engaged in furthering separatist, anti-national, anti-state, anti-social, communal and divisive agendas which cause disturbance in existing peaceful social harmony and law and order situation of the State”.

Manipur Government’s special secretary (home) H Gyan Prakash issued an office memorandum in this regard on Wednesday.

They were given 48-hour time till 6 pm of 12 August 2022 to exit from such groups. Failing which appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated against them under relevant legal and applicable conduct Rules provisions, it said.

As per the office memorandum, the members of these groups, in order to spread and push their respective agenda, indulge in spreading false information, hate speeches/videos and also share information which are not to be in public domain.

The office memorandum further said that information has been received that many government officials including many senior officers are members of these groups inadvertently or by choice, thereby participating directly or indirectly in the furtherance of such separatist, anti-national, anti-state, anti-social and divisive agendas;

it has also been noticed that some government employees are also contributing, sharing and commenting on blogging and microblogging sites in a manner which is unbecoming of a government employee, it added.

Maintaining that participation of government officials in such groups may be construed as involvement in activities of such groups/ blogging sites which is in contravention of Rules 5 and 7 or both of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and Rules 5, 9 and 11 or all three of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, it said they are liable for disciplinary action.