The Manipur government on Wednesday issued a 48-hour deadline to government officials to exit from social media groups with communal and divisive agenda which can cause disturbance in existing peaceful social harmony and law and order situation of the state.
An order issued by H Gyan Prakash, Special Secretary (Home) stated that it has come to the notice of the government that many formal and informal groups on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and other chat groups are engaged in furthering separatist, anti-national, anti-state, anti-social, communal and divisive agenda which cause disturbance in existing peaceful social harmony and law and order situation of the state;
"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," it stated.
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It stated 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 agenda, while adding that some government employees are also contributing, sharing and oommentlng on blogging and microblogging sites in a manner which is unbecoming of a government employee;
"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 and are liable for disciplinary action. Therefore, all government officials who are members of such groups are directed to exit from such social media group(s) within 48 hours i.e by 6 pm of August 12 failing which appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated against them under relevant legal and applicable conduct rules provisions," it added.
