Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced in the Legislative Council that the state government will introduce strict regulations prohibiting government employees and officers from creating and uploading social media reels. The decision came in response to a query raised by MLC Dr. Parinay Fuke in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Fadnavis confirmed that a Government Resolution (GR) would be issued to implement the ban. Additionally, the state administration plans to amend the 1979 Service Conduct Rules to incorporate new provisions regulating the social media behavior of government officials and employees. These regulations will be integrated into their service conditions to ensure stricter compliance.
Dr. Fuke highlighted the increasing trend of government officers and employees actively using social media to create and share reels. He pointed out that such content often portrays officials like District Collectors, Superintendents of Police, or Police Inspectors as the primary decision-makers in their respective areas, creating a misleading image that they run the state’s affairs. He emphasized the need for stricter rules and their effective implementation to prevent misuse of social media by government employees.
Chief Minister Fadnavis stated in the Legislative Council that any form of unregulated social media activity by government officials would not be tolerated. Dr. Fuke had previously written to Fadnavis in December, raising concerns over the issue. During the council session, he reiterated the need for stricter regulation, citing incidents where reels posted by officials had caused embarrassment to the government.
Under the Maharashtra Civil Services Conduct Rules, disciplinary action has been taken against officials for misconduct in the past three years. However, Dr. Fuke questioned whether the government planned to introduce a new law or amend existing regulations to impose stricter control over social media activities of government employees.
He also pointed out that several government employees have used social media to criticize the administration or for self-promotion. While the government encourages citizen engagement through social media, the current trends suggest misuse. Dr. Fuke mentioned that the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy has already implemented strict guidelines regarding social media usage, suggesting Maharashtra should follow suit.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com