Now, fresh norms on model conduct for PSU employees

New Delhi: The Centre has issued a fresh set of rules to govern the conduct of central PSU employees, which bars them from political activities and criticising government policies or actions.

The rules will impact over 12 lakh employees working in state-owned firms.

The 'Consolidated Model Conduct, Discipline and Appeal Rules for CPSEs' also prescribes that employees must not accept any gifts, refrain from consuming any intoxicating drink or drug in a public place, not appear in a public place in a state of intoxication, or use any intoxicating drink or drug to excess.

"For this rule, 'public place' means any place or premises (including a conveyance) to which the public have, or are permitted to have, access, whether on payment or otherwise," the Department of Public Enterprises said.

According to the norms, no employee will make any statement, which has the effect of adverse criticism of any policy or action of the Centre or state governments, or of the CPSE, or which is capable of embarrassing the relations between the central public sector enterprise (CPSE) and the public.

A CPSE employee cannot become an office-bearer of a political party or an organisation which takes part in politics, or take part in or assist in any manner in any movement/agitation or demonstration of a political nature, according to the new norms.

Employees are also barred from taking part in an election to any legislature or local authority, and from canvassing in any election to any legislature or local authority.

The rules also lay down that no CPSE employee shall accept or permit any member of his/her family or any other person acting on his/her behalf, to receive any gift.

The norms also prohibit CPSE employees from giving or taking or abetting the giving or taking of dowry; or demand, directly or indirectly, from the parents or guardian of a bride or bridegroom, as the case may be, any dowry.

An employee must maintain high ethical standards and honesty, maintain political neutrality, maintain courtesy and good behaviour with the public, and must not adopt dilatory tactics or wilfully cause delays in disposal of the work assigned to him/her, according to the rules.