-The Times of India
Facing complaints over government officials dealing with lawmakers, the government has put in place a code of conduct of sorts which deals with everything from rising to receive and see off an MP, besides inviting MPs to public functions.
To begin with, the office memorandum from the department of personnel and training has asked officials to acknowledge receipt of a letter within 15 days and reply within the next fortnight. Although this holds true for general public too, the government has said that at the least the secretary of a department, if not a minister, responds to a letter from an MP or a member of the state legislature in case of public sector companies.
"Information sought by an MP should be supplied unless it is of such nature that it would have been denied to him, if similar information had been sought in Parliament," the five page note said. In case information cannot be provided, a higher authority needs approve it.
Information and data of local importance also needs to be provided both in physical form as well as via e-mail, the memorandum said.
It then goes on to list of 15 dos and don’t s while dealing with elected representatives. Apart from showing courtesy, it has asked government servants to "consider carefully or listen patiently". In case there is a change in the appointment, the reasons for delay have to be explained.
The advisory has said that in case of an event, the warrant of precedence should be followed and the MP should be accorded priority over secretary-rank officers.
Officers have been asked not to ignore messages left and promptly respond to e-mails and text messages if it is sent on the official phone or ID.
And to avoid any conflict of interest government officials have also been advised against approaching MPs and MLAs for sponsoring individual cases. Although the note does not specify it, the reference if to appointments and transfers, which have now become common practice.