TN health dept bars employees from criticising Centre, state govt policies in public, on social media

The circular on employee conduct has added another layer to the debate about TVK govt's approach with respect to public communication on governance matters.

File photo: CM C. Joseph Vijay speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly | X@CMOTamilnadu

Chennai: A circular issued by the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department has sparked a row as it tells employees of the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine that they are barred from criticising central or state government policies in public spaces or on media platforms.

The circular issued on 19 October by Dr A. Somasundaram, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, states that no government servant shall adversely criticise the policies, programmes or actions of the central or state government in public spaces or media platforms, including social media or via memes, under Rule 12 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1973.

“They shall not express any views that could damage good relations with other governments, under any circumstances. They are also prohibited from participating in unauthorised meetings where resolutions or speeches criticising the government are made. Any violation will invite disciplinary action under the Government Servants’ Conduct Rules,” the circular read.

ThePrint attempted to reach Dr Somasundaram for a comment, but there was no response.

The latest circular on employee conduct has added another layer to the debate about the TVK government’s approach with respect to public communication.

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, is already described as one that keeps its distance from the media.

Since assuming office in May, CM Vijay has not held a single formal press conference, granted no one-on-one interviews, and has not taken unscripted questions from journalists. His communication has largely been limited to assembly speeches, official statements, pre-recorded video messages, and social media posts. Ministers and MLAs have also refrained from direct media interactions.

TVK describes its silent approach as a disciplined, “less talk-more work” style of work that avoids media spin and keeps the focus on governance. However, the government also does not address governance matters in public forums, even when asked under the Right to Information Act.

Earlier this week, the opposition in the state alleged lack of transparency by the Vijay government after a response from it on an RTI query about selection of Pattinapakkam for new secretariat site said that the government had no information on how it was picked. DMK MP Kanimozhi questioned if there was any actual feasibility analysis involved, or if the move was astrologically motivated.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had declined to provide information under RTI about the restructuring, staffing, salaries and administration of its Fact Check Unit, citing Section 7(9) of the RTI Act.