Maharashtra Government Issues Guidelines for Social Media Use by Employees

Strategic Insights -

The Maharashtra government has issued a circular, warning employees of disciplinary action if they fail to adhere to guidelines for using social media. The circular states that employees should not share government documents or criticise government policies on social media without prior approval, and should keep their personal and office social media accounts separate. The guidelines aim to prevent misuse of social media by government employees, who have been observed violating government service rules and giving adverse comments about government officials or political events.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Maharashtra government has issued a circular requiring employees to obtain prior approval before sharing government documents or criticising government policies on social media.
  • Employees are warned of disciplinary action under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules, 1979, and other relevant provisions if they fail to follow the guidelines.
  • The circular defines social media as a broad concept, including social networking sites, microblogging sites, video sharing platforms, instant messaging apps, and collaborative tools.
  • Employees are advised to keep their personal and office social media accounts separate, and avoid using websites, apps, or platforms banned by the central or state government.
  • Posting information on social media requires careful consideration, and employees should avoid sharing confidential documents or government property without authorization.
  • The circular emphasizes the importance of using social media responsibly and consciously, and encourages employees to avoid self-promotion and posting offensive or discriminatory content.

Statistics:

  • The Maharashtra government's circular covers government employees and contract workers employed by government departments.
  • The circular defines social media as a broad concept, including over 10 specific platforms and applications.
  • Employees are warned of disciplinary action under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules, 1979, which was enacted in 1979.
  • The circular emphasizes the importance of responsible social media use, citing the risks of sharing confidential information, spreading false or misleading information, and failure to delete information.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times, without date or publication date.