Assam: Take action against staff criticising government, says Director of Higher Education

The Bhartiya Janata Party led Assam government issued an office order for higher education department employees on December 30, warning them against making statements that are critical of the administration.

This development comes less than a week after elementary education department officials were issued with similar instructions. All employees, including contractual workers, were also barred from taking part in political activities. According to Assam government such comments violate provisions of the Assam Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules of 1964 and a cell has been formed to monitor "such prohibited activities".

"It is brought to the notice of all concerned that under Rule 7 of the Assam Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, 1965, a government servant shall not make any statement of fact or opinion criticising the government," reads the order, issued by G Phukan, Director of the Higher Education Department of Assam.

"If the government servant is found criticising the government, he or she will be held responsible for violation of Rules 3 and Rule 7 of Assam Civil Service (Conduct) Rules.”

All principals of government and provincialised colleges have been sent copies of the order.

This order comes in the wake of college teachers taking part in protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA.

A faculty member at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Jorhat district, Bondita Bora says, was suspended last week for "unauthorised participation" in anti-CAA protests between December 10 and 16. Bora has since been reinstated.