In view of the growing number of complaints related to the government officials not following the protocol with MPs and MLAs, the Yogi government has now given directives for strict action against such officials under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Government Servants Discipline and Appeal Rules, 1999.
The state government has also asked for the regular monitoring of all such complaints on a fortnightly or monthly basis, and that reports in this regard be shared with the parliamentary affairs department.
The government has sent multiple reminders to officers and employees to show courtesy and follow protocol.
Satish Mahana, Speaker of the state Assembly, said, “Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and minister for parliamentary affairs Suresh Khanna have consistently asked officers to strictly comply with the norms whenever any issue in this regard is raised. I have reviewed the cases of violation regularly and several reminders in this regard have been issued. The state government obviously wants the officers and employees to follow the norms as given in the guidelines.”
Also Read | Ahead of Priyanka Gandhi’s Hyderabad visit, KTR terms her 'political tourist'
He said he was not aware of the number of complaints of violation in the state. Senior officers of the state legislative also refused to comment.
Official sources, however, said about 30 to 40 cases of violation of protocol were pending for consideration by the state legislative Assembly’s committee on parliamentary affairs that the Speaker presides over.
Principal secretary-parliamentary affairs department, J.P. Singh, in the latest order dated April 27, said the cases of violation of protocol were being consistently reported.
Referring to a meeting of the committee, held on April 10, that expressed displeasure over the consistent of violation of norms, he said, “Strict action will be taken against those not showing courtesy or not following the protocol and the government’s orders in this regard should be complied with in every circumstance.”
Singh has asked all the additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, secretaries and the DGP to direct the employees working under them to follow the norms for the MPs and the legislators.
It may be mentioned that the state legislative Assembly on March 3, 2023 awarded a day’s imprisonment to a retired IAS officer and five policemen for breach of privilege following a notice in this regard given by former BJP MLA Salil Vishnoi nearly two-decades ago.
