The new BJP government in West Bengal on Wednesday imposed a “complete ban” on government officials interacting with the media or sharing information without prior permission, citing central and state government service rules.
They have been posted to Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS), West Bengal Police Service (WBPS) and other state government employees.
The order, a copy of which was seen by HT, cited central and state government service rules and said a “total ban” would also apply to appearing in media programs or writing articles for newspapers unless approved by the government.
“Complete prohibition, except for prior sanctions, on the participation or association of any member of the Services in any sponsored or privately produced media program or any media program sponsored by the Government of India but produced by an external agency,” the order said.
The ban applies to “direct or indirect communication of any document or information with the press by members of the services” unless there is a government order.
The order prohibits officers from making “any negative criticism of any policy or decision of the Central or State government, by any publication, interaction, speech or broadcast” and any action that could lead to “strained relations” between the state and the Centre, or between the Center and other states.
No state government official had commented on the matter as of Thursday evening.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged in a social media post that the state intends to silence government employees.
“This shocking post is not about discipline. It is about curtailing freedom of expression and systematically stifling fundamental rights to ensure absolute obedience to the masters sitting in Delhi,” he wrote in a social media post.
