Centre Amends Conduct Rules: List of 18 new rules for civil servants to follow

THE government wants civil servants to follow 18 basic principles in their conduct. Those include defending decency and morality, maintaining political neutrality, promoting principles of merit, and maintaining courtesy and good behaviour with the public, among others. The government on November 27, 2014, notified the Central Civil Services (Conduct) (Third Amendment) Rules, 2014 whereby under new Rule 3, the civil servants are asked to…
1) Commit himself to and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and democratic values;
2) Defend and uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, public order, decency and morality;
3) Maintain high ethical standards and honesty;
4) Maintain political neutrality;
5) Promote the principles of merit, fairness and impartiality in the discharge of duties;
6) Maintain accountability and transparency;
7) Maintain responsiveness to the public, particularly to the weaker section;
8) Maintain courtesy and good behaviour with the public;
9) Take decisions solely in public interest and use or cause to use public resources efficiently, effectively and economically;
10) Declare any private interests relating to his public duties and take steps to resolve any conflicts in a way that protects the public interest;
11) Not place himself under any financial or other obligations to any individual or organisation which may influence him in the performance of his official duties;
12) Not misuse his position as civil servant and not take decisions in order to derive financial or material benefits for himself, his family or his friends;
13) Make choices, take decisions and make recommendations on merit alone;
14) Act with fairness and impartiality and not discriminate against anyone, particularly the poor and the under-privileged sections of society;
15) Refrain from doing anything which is or may be contrary to any law, rules, regulations and established practices;
16) Maintain discipline in the discharge of his duties and be liable to implement the lawful orders duly communicated to him;
17) Maintain confidentiality in the performance of' his official duties as required by any laws for the time being in force, particularly with regard to information, disclosure of which may prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, friendly relation with foreign countries or lead to incitement of an offence or illegal or unlawful gain to any person;
18) Perform and discharge his duties with the highest degree of professionalism and dedication to the best of his abilities.
For All India Services, i.e. the IAS, IPS and Indian forest service (IFS), a separate set of conduct rules called All India Services (Conduct) Rules is applicable. Those rules were amended amended earlier in August this year.