KOLKATA: The new BJP government in West Bengal issued an order on Wednesday stating that there will be a “complete ban” on officers interacting with or sharing information with the media without permission.
It has been sent to all officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS), officers of the West Bengal Police Service (WBPS) and other state government employees.
The order, a copy of which has been seen by HT, cites central and state government service rules. It stated that the “total ban” also applies to appearing on 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 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 who are in Delhi,” Banerjee wrote in a social media post.
