GUWAHATI: With several state government employees taking part in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest, Director of Higher Education Assam has asked the government servants not give any statement of fact or opinion criticizing the government.
In an office order G Phukan Director of Higher Education stated, “It is brought to the notice of all concerned that under 7 of the of the Assam Civil Service (conduct) rules 1965, a government servant shall not make any statement of fact or opinion criticizing the government. If the government servant is found criticizing the government, he/she will be held responsible for violation of Rule 3 and rule 7 of Assam Civil Service (conduct) rules 1965 which will attract the appropriate provisions of the Assam services (discipline and appeal) rules 1964.”
The order clarified that all principals of government/provincialized colleges in the state of Assam are therefore requested to ensure strict compliance of the above rules.
Earlier the elementary education department issued an order prohibiting teachers and other employees from taking part in political activities. The order said the government had noticed that a section of government employees, regular and contractual, had been indulging and participating in political activities on different social media forums like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram and others. It said these activities are a violation of the provision of Assam Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1964, adding the department had formed a cell to monitor “such prohibited activities”.
On December 18 Assam government employees in several areas participated in the cease work campaign.
Assam finance minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier warned, “Teachers should be in school, doctors in hospitals and officers on duty after work if they participate in protest called by non-political organisation government has nothing to say however they must refrain from political platforms. Do not take this as festival of not going to work.”
On Monday All Assam Students Union organised protest programme in Morigaon. In Chabua in Upper Assam Satradhikar(head) Vaishnavite Satra (monastery) along with several other people held anti CAA rally.
A person showed black flag during Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s visit at Cinnamara tea estate.
Sonowal said, “Amar Asom (our state), Amar Mati (our land), Amar Adhikar (our right) are the guiding principles as the State government is safeguarding jati, mati, bheti of the indigenous people with these principles”.
Sonowal said that since the first day of taking over power, the present State government has been working to safeguard the rights and privileges of the people of Assam. He also said that his government has adopted land policy particularly to protect land rights of the indigenous people of the state. Stating that he himself being a son of the soil, he will not allow his government to do anything infringing the rights of the indigenous people.
Chief Minister Sonowal also said that his government is carrying out survey of ceiling surplus land of tea garden areas just to ascertain the quantum of land to be given to the people belonging to tea tribe community. He at the same time allayed the fear generated by some vested interest groups that land survey being done by the State government would entail selling the land to outsiders. He maintained that land which originally belongs to tea tribe community will remain with them.
Source: Economic Times
