General standards and Rule 3-C

The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 set the behavioural frame for Central Government servants. Rule 3(1) requires every Government servant at all times to maintain absolute integrity, maintain devotion to duty, and do nothing which is unbecoming of a Government servant. Later amendments expanded Rule 3 with further standards such as political neutrality, high ethical standards, accountability and transparency, but the three classic limbs remain the starting point of most service-rules questions.

Rule 3-C prohibits any act of sexual harassment of any woman at any workplace. Every Government servant in charge of a workplace must take appropriate steps to prevent such harassment. The explanation defines sexual harassment through unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature and related circumstances such as hostile work environment or threat to employment status. Workplace is defined broadly and includes offices, places visited in the course of employment, and certain other locations.

Political activity and public expression

• Rule 5: no membership of, or association with, a political party or organisation that takes part in politics; no assistance to a political movement or activity; no canvassing or use of influence in an election to any legislature or local authority. Casting a vote is permitted; the servant must not disclose the manner of voting.
• Rule 7: no participation in a demonstration prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or involving contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence; and no strike, coercion or physical duress in connection with any matter pertaining to his own service or that of another Government servant.
• Rule 8: previous sanction is required to own, conduct, edit or manage a newspaper, periodical or electronic media, subject to limited official-duty exceptions.
• Rule 9: no public statement of fact or opinion that amounts to adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the Central Government or a State Government, or that is capable of embarrassing relations with a State or foreign State. Statements made in official capacity, or in due performance of assigned duties, are excepted. A limited proviso also protects bona fide expression by specified office-bearers of service associations on service conditions.

Gifts, dowry and private trade

Rule 13 provides that, save as permitted, a Government servant shall not accept, or permit any family member or person acting on his behalf to accept, any gift. Free transport, boarding, lodging or other pecuniary advantage from a person other than a near relative or personal friend having no official dealings is treated as a gift. On ceremonial occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, funerals or religious functions, gifts from near relatives or personal friends having no official dealings may be accepted, with a report to Government if the value exceeds the prescribed limit for the servant’s Group. Gifts from persons with official dealings remain tightly restricted.

Rule 13-A prohibits giving or taking dowry, or demanding dowry, with “dowry” carrying the meaning in the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

Rule 15 generally requires previous sanction before engaging in private trade or business, undertaking other employment, holding elective office in a body, or certain media participation. Without previous sanction a Government servant may undertake honorary work of a social or charitable nature; occasional work of a literary, artistic or scientific character; and participate in sports as an amateur, subject to the conditions in the rule (including discontinuance if directed by Government).

Rule 16 restricts speculative investments and lending or borrowing involving persons with whom the servant has official dealings, so that financial obligation does not compromise official independence.

Property and marriage restrictions

Rule 18 requires a return of assets and liabilities on first appointment in the prescribed form, covering immovable property, shares and cash, other movable property, and debts. Group A and Group B servants must also submit an annual return of immovable property. Acquisition or disposal of immovable property requires previous knowledge of the prescribed authority; previous sanction is needed in specified cases such as transactions with persons having official dealings. Transactions in movable property above the prescribed value threshold must be reported within the prescribed time.

Rule 21 bars a Government servant from marrying a person who has a spouse living, and bars a Government servant who has a spouse living from marrying another person. The Central Government may permit such a marriage only if it is permissible under the personal law applicable to both parties and there are other grounds for permission. Marriage with a person who is not an Indian national must be intimated forthwith to the Government.

CCA minor and major penalties

The Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 supply the disciplinary machinery. Rule 11 lists the penalties that may be imposed for good and sufficient reasons.

Minor penalties: censure; withholding of promotion; recovery from pay of the whole or part of any pecuniary loss caused to the Government by negligence or breach of orders; reduction to a lower stage in the time-scale of pay by one stage for a period not exceeding three years, without cumulative effect and not adversely affecting pension; and withholding of increments of pay.

Major penalties: reduction to a lower stage in the time-scale of pay for a specified period (other than the limited one-stage case treated as minor), with directions on increments during and after the period; reduction to a lower time-scale of pay, grade, post or Service; compulsory retirement; removal from service which shall not be a disqualification for future employment under the Government; and dismissal from service which shall ordinarily be a disqualification for future employment under the Government.

The removal–dismissal distinction is frequently tested: removal leaves the door open to future Government employment; dismissal ordinarily closes it.

Suspension and inquiry method

Suspension under Rule 10 is not a penalty. A Government servant may be placed under suspension where a disciplinary proceeding against him is contemplated or is pending; where, in the opinion of the authority, he has engaged in activities prejudicial to the security of the State; or where a case against him in respect of any criminal offence is under investigation, inquiry or trial. During suspension the servant remains in service but is kept away from official duties. Orders of suspension are subject to review within the periods prescribed in the rule.

Ordinarily, a major penalty under Rule 11(v) to (ix) follows an inquiry under Rule 14, with action on the inquiry report under Rule 15. Rule 19 provides special exceptions to the normal inquiry procedure. The disciplinary authority draws up definite and distinct articles of charge with a statement of imputations, lists of documents and witnesses, and delivers them to the Government servant, who is given an opportunity to submit a written statement of defence and to be heard. Minor penalties are ordinarily dealt with under Rule 16: the servant must receive the allegations and a reasonable opportunity to represent, but a full oral inquiry is not compulsory in every minor-penalty case.

Exam method

• Separate Conduct Rules (standards of behaviour) from CCA Rules (penalties and procedure).
• For Rule 5, remember that voting is allowed; membership, canvassing and influence are not.
• For Rule 7, state the prejudice grounds carefully; do not convert the rule into a blanket ban on every demonstration.
• For penalties, memorise the removal versus dismissal distinction and the limited one-stage reduction that sits among minor penalties.
• For procedure, link major penalties with Rule 14 inquiry and minor penalties with Rule 16 representation.

Key points to remember

Practice: 10 MCQs

Attempt all ten questions, then press Submit. The correct answer and a short explanation appear under every question, followed by your score analysis.