Explained: An IAS couple is transferred after a dog-walking incident; what rules govern the conduct of senior Govt officers?

What is the News?

A senior IAS officer and his wife were transferred from their posts in Delhi to two different places after a newspaper published a picture of the couple along with their dog walking on the tracks of a stadium at a time when young athletes should have been practising on it.

What rules govern the behaviour of high officials of the government?

The three All India Services (IAS, IPS, and Indian Forest Service) are governed by the All India Service Conduct Rules, 1968.

The other civil services are governed by the Central Civil Services (CCS) Conduct Rules, 1964.

What is the aim of these rules?

The overarching aim of these rules for civil servants is that: “Every member of the Service shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of a member of the Service”.

For instance, the rules say that: 1) Every member of the Service shall commit himself to and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution, 2) not misuse his position as a civil servant and not take decisions in order to derive financial or material benefits, 3) act with fairness and impartiality and not discriminate against anyone, 4) refrain from doing anything which is or may be contrary to any law, rules, regulations and established practices among others.

What happens when officials claim their behaviour is dictated by the orders of their superiors?

There is a well-framed Rule about how to act on oral orders given by superiors. It says that the direction of the official superior shall ordinarily be in writing. Where the issue of oral direction becomes unavoidable, the official superior shall confirm it in writing immediately thereafter.

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: An IAS couple is transferred after a dog-walking incident; what rules govern the conduct of senior Govt officers?” published in Indian Express on 28th May 2022.