Hr govt tells officers to follow norms while accepting gifts

Ahead of Diwali, the Manohar Lal Khattar led-BJP Government in Haryana has asked the officers including the IAS and IPS to adhere to government norms while accepting gifts.
Though such instructions are not particularly issued for Diwali festival, but the state government has reiterated these when the festival of lights is round the corner.
"The Haryana Government has reiterated the restrictions imposed on the acceptance of gifts by IAS, IPS, IFS and other officers and employees on social and religious functions, including anniversaries, weddings and festivals including mandatory reporting there of to the government should the value of the gift exceed the prescribed limit," an official release said here today.

According to a letter issued by the Chief Secretary here today, a member of the service may accept gifts from his near relatives or from his personal friends having no official dealings with them, on occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, funerals and religious functions when giving gift is in conformity with the prevailing religious and social practice.
"But he shall report to the state government should the value of such gift exceed Rs 25,000," states the Chief Secretary's letter issued to all the Administrative Secretaries, all the Heads of Departments, the Commissioner Ambala, Hisar, Gurgaon and Rohtak divisions, the Registrar, Punjab and Haryana High Court and all the Deputy Commissioners.

Besides, the letter has also been issued to the Managing Directors and Chief Administrators of all the Boards and Corporations and the Registrars of all the Universities here today, under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968.

The term "gifts" is defined to include free transport, free boarding, free lodging or any service or pecuniary advantage when provided by a person other than a near relative or personal friend having no official dealings with the member of the service, but does not include a casual meal, casual lift or other social hospitality, it said.
He/she shall avoid accepting lavish hospitality or frequent hospitality from persons having official dealings with them, or from industrial or commercial firms or other organisations.

Similarly, in respect of state government employees, the Chief Secretary said that under the Haryana Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1966, no government employee shall accept or permit any member of his family or any other person acting on his behalf, to accept any gift.