The Uttar Pradesh government has directed IAS, IPS Officers across the state to strictly follow protocol while interacting with Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and other public representatives.
The order was issued by Chief Secretary S.P. Goyal, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. It states that officials must follow proper etiquette when meeting public representatives. This includes standing up when they arrive, greeting them with folded hands, and offering them water. Failure to follow these rules may lead to disciplinary action under the Uttar Pradesh State Employees Conduct Rules.
The order was issued on Thursday after several complaints were received about improper behaviour by officials towards elected representatives.
As per reports, the IAS and IPS Officers were not giving proper respect to leaders elected by public. After receiving several complaints, the Government has ordered officers to follow the protocol.
What is the protocol?
The government has made it mandatory for officers and staff to:
- Stand up when MPs or MLAs enter the office
- Greet them respectfully with folded hands
- Offer water as a basic courtesy
The order also states that earlier instructions on this matter were not properly followed, despite multiple reminders.
It further says that not following these rules is a violation of official conduct and is considered “highly regrettable.”
The government has also issued communication guidelines for officials dealing with elected representatives. Officials have been instructed to answer calls from MPs, MLAs, and public representatives on priority.
If officers are not able to attend call due to some emergency then they should send a message immediately to the caller and call back as soon as possible.
Officers should listen carefully to their concerns and ensure quick action on issues raised.
The government has emphasized that complaints raised by elected representatives should be resolved efficiently, and updates should be shared with them.
The Chief Secretary has warned that strict disciplinary action will be taken against officials who do not follow these instructions.
The order also refers to 15 earlier government directives, showing continued concern over protocol violations.
