Govt employees prevented from holding posts in religious groups

Thiruvananthapuram: The State government Saturday came out with a new order that prevents a government employee from becoming an office bearer of any communal or religious organisation.

The government said it was forced to issue this order after several complaints surfaced about government servants being office bearers of communal or religious organisations.

It said there were reports about government employees accepting subscription or taking part in activities that involved collection of money from people, public or private entities.

The new order amends the Kerala Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1960.

The new order said a government servant shall within one month of his assuming charge as an office bearer of any scientific, literary or charitable society or of such trusts or organisation, inform the government.

If, in the opinion of the government, the employee becoming an office bearer of such a group is not in public interest, he or she should resign from such a post.

State government employees' organisations are yet to respond to the order.