Thiruvananthapuram: The ban on government employees from working as office-bearers of religious and community organisations has been lifted with chief minister Oommen Chandy signing the relevant file. The chief minister has instructed the personnel and administrative reforms department secretary to issue an order amending the code of conduct of employees to lift the ban.
Section 67(A) of the Government Servants Conduct Rules refers to the ban. Earlier, government employees were not banned from becoming office-bearers of community organisations. But when some employees became office-bearers of organisations propagating religious extremism, the ban had to be imposed by amending rules two years ago.
With this, government permission was needed to become the office bearer of even organisations registered under the charitable societies act. As a result, government employees found it difficult to become officer-bearers of not only religious and community organisations at state, district and unit levels but also committees of temples, churches and mosques. Most employees then voluntarily resigned from such positions, and disciplinary actions were taken against officials who did not relinquish posts.
In this circumstance, community leaders had asked the government to repeal the ban. Following this, the chief minister decided to review the earlier order and gave instructions to grant permission. As a result, government employees will now be able to work in and become office-bearers of organisations that do not engage in extremist or subversive activities.
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