Lok Sabha Question No. 1238 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-14
Subject: Protocol Guidelines for Administrative Activities
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Dilip Ghosh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1238 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2022)

## PROTOCOL GUIDELINES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES

## 1238. SHRI DILIP GHOSH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  Government  guidelines  regarding  protocols  for  the  administrative activities  and  programs  in  respect  of  Hon'ble  Members  of  Parliament  and  the  relevant provision for action to be taken against the bodies/officials violating the protocols during such administrative activities and programs;
- (b) whether  information  of  any  incident  of  protocol  violation  throughout  the  country  has been received; and
- (c) if so, the details of action taken or likely to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a)  to  (c):    Comprehensive  guidelines  regarding  observance  of  proper  procedure  in  official dealings between Administration and Members of Parliament and State Legislatures were issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in 2011 to all the Ministries/Departments and to Chief Secretaries of all Sates/UTs, with the request to circulate these instructions to all State Government officials at the State/Division and District levels, in order to  sensitize  them  with  regard  to  their  duties  and  obligations  in  relation  to  dealings  with Members  of  Parliament  and  State  Legislatures.  These  guidelines  also  include  the  procedure mentioned  in  Central  Secretariat-Manual  of  Office  Procedure  for  prompt  disposal  of  letters received from representatives of people. These instructions have also been reiterated from time to time, to be followed by all Government officials, both in letter and spirit. Recently, various instructions issued on observance of proper procedure in official dealings between Administration and Members of Parliament and State Legislatures have been compiled and the consolidated guidelines, including the link of all  the  previous  guidelines  and  Manual  of  Office Procedure, have been uploaded on the website of DOPT for easy access to all the stakeholders.

In  case  a  Government  Servant  fails  to  comply  with  these  provisions,  he is  liable  to  be proceeded against for disciplinary action which could result in the imposition of penalties as per provisions of Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, All India Services (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules, 1969 and withholding or withdrawing of pension or gratuity, or both, as per the provisions of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021.

The  details  regarding  the  Notices  of  the  question  of  breach  of  privilege/violation  of protocol  received  during  the  year  2022,  in  respect  of  officers  of  the  Indian  Administrative Service, are as follows:

- (i)      Number of Notices Received:16
- (ii)     Number of factual reports received from the State Governments: 7
- (iii)    Number of reports sent to the Lok Sabha Secretariat (Privilege & Ethics Branch): 7

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