Rules for govt servants: Criticize government, you could lose your pay hike

BENGALURU: Don't marry while in matrimony or seek or offer dowry if you are a government official in Karnataka, because that would leave you without a job. Also, don't let the government find you criticising it or participating in media debates.That would rule out salary increments for two years.

The state government, for the first time, has issued a set of commandments for its officials, categorising various offenses and punishments under the Karnataka Civil Service rules. Other than for grave offenses such as sexual harassment and misappropriation of funds, the state government has prescribed specific penalties for violations including coming late to work and refusing to obey a senior. The service rules didn't specify such punishments earlier.

The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms ( DPAR) issued a circular on this last week after several complaints that punishments accorded to government officials after departmental inquiries were often disproportionate to the gravity of the offences.

By categorising various common offenses and the punishments for each, DPAR hopes to standardise the government's efforts to curb indiscipline. “It is written at the entrance of Vidhana Soudha that 'government work is god's work', but there are many instances of misappropriation of funds, abuse of power, nepotism and sexual harassment against women. To stop such offences, the state government has laid down these categories of punishments,“ said a DPAR official.

DPAR has prescribed specific punishments for 23 common offences.

“Some officials believe coming late to office, participating in television interviews, offering dowry and running a business are not offences, but this circular clarifies on that,“ said N Santhosh Kumar, assistant executive engineer, south zone, BBMP.

Crimes and Punishment
* Misuse of government funds – forced retirement
* Misappropriation of funds (up to Rs 10,000) – no salary increment for 5 years
* Misappropriation of funds (more than Rs 10,000) – demotion
* Sexual harassment – demotion and salary deduction
* Refusing to obey senior officers – no promotion for 2 years
* Criticising the government – no salary increment for 2 years
* Failure to disclose wealth and property – no salary increment for 1 year
* Contesting in elections or campaigning – demotion and salary deduction
* Participating in media interview or debates – no salary increment or promotion for 2 years
* Collecting funds for external bodies – demotion
* Running a business or holding another job – demotion and salary deduction
* Continuous late-coming – no promotion
* Marrying again while in matrimony – forced retirement from service
* Seeking or offering dowry – dismissal from service
* Participating in cinema or theatre – no salary increment for 2 years