PSUs barred from political activity, criticising Centre

New Delhi, Dec. 25: The Centre has issued a fresh set of norms 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 the purposes of 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 public.

This includes any document published under his/her name or in the name of any other person or in any communication to the press, electronic and print media or in public utterances.

As per the new rules, no employee of the CPSE “shall engage oneself or participate in any demonstration, which involves incitement to an offence”.

A CPSE employee cannot become an officebearer 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. — PTI