Beware of Unethical Practices in Government
-Dr. Lalit Kumar Setia
The Financial
Rules in each Government whether it is Central Government or State Government;
restrict the Officers of Government from misusing their position for gaining
private gain. How a Government Officer can misuse his/her position?
Coercion:
The influence of
power affects the functions of an officer. When there is any power in the hands
of an officer, everyone who can take benefit from that power, try to make the
officer happy. In case, the Officer is also of a similar nature, then
everyone tries to get their work fulfilled. The Officer may try to misuse his
position to persuade the persons under his/her control, to do something by
using force or threats. The effort to realize something by using force or
threats is coercion. Once, Twice, Thrice, and then it may become a habit or
practice of getting work done forcefully.
It is usually
come in the news that a person tried to get something done by using the approach of an
officer. No doubt the persons who are using the powers of officers to get their personal
work done, are also involved in crime.
Endorsing any product or service or enterprise:
The independent family members of an officer can indeed do their own business; can
sell goods and services. But the Government Officers are not expected to
endorse any product or service or enterprise of any family member, relative, or
even of an unknown person. Endorsement is considered unethical and unfair in
the financial and administrative rules applicable to the Government Officers.
Use of Public Office, Stationary, Official Assets for Private Gain:
The Government
in most States, notice whether the offices are being used on Sundays,
Holidays for the private gain of the employees or not. The use of public office
including Air Conditioners, other Electrical Appliances, Government Vehicles,
Assets of Government; for any private gain to the employee; is always
considered wrong.
In case, an asset is allotted to an employee for official work, that should be used only
for the same official functions for which they are issued; in case, there is another
official work, the permission for another such work should be taken first. The
use for private gain, if proved, may make the integrity doubtful of that
employee.
Misuse of Official Title:
The Doctors,
Teachers, Engineers, other professionals even IT professionals; cannot use
official title or position in their personal capacities, to promote their
products and services. However, there are a few exceptions to this principle,
the government employee if writing his biographical details anywhere, then he
can mention his official title, in case of writing of articles and research
papers; the Government employee can use his title in connection with an article or a research paper published in a magazine or newspaper or journal.
Sanctioning expenditure for own advantage:
In Haryana, the
Rule 2.10 (4) of Punjab Financial Rules states that a Government employee
cannot use his financial power for himself. “No Authority should exercise its
powers of sanctioning expenditure to an order which will be directly or
indirectly to its own advantage”.
Suppose there is
any approval to expenditure which is for own advantage, then the officer is
supposed to get the expenditure approved from an authority empowered to approve
the same expenditure instead of approving the expenditure on his own level.
Here, one point
is important, that if an authority has already issued an order under
which an officer is making an approval or order which is making him benefited,
then such orders can be issued concerning the rules or order of senior
authorities.
Misuse of Office Time for Personal Gains:
During the
office time, an employee should perform only official functions. No personal
Whatsapp chat, no dissemination of personal messages, no promotion to any
charitable event or causes, no commercial activities including personal
business or share trading, etc.
Even the official time of subordinates and other employees should not be used for
personal gains. “Personal Activities should not be conducted during Duty Hours”.
Prohibition on disclosing official information without the consent of authorities:
On whatever
post, a person is working; it is not desirable to disclose confidentially
official information to someone else without the prior consent of the authorities.
Even the information which is supposed to be provided under ‘Right to
Information Act’; should not be provided without the consent of the authorities.
The authorities have the right to decide whether to give the information or
not.
Disclosing any contract’s bid may lead to significant loss to the Government, disclosing of personal information of the employees may lead to criminal’s attacks on their residence or during the travel of the employees; the personal information cannot be provided, even the ‘Right to Information Act’ has provisions to restrict sharing of such information with outsiders.
With Grace of God Almighty, on behalf of HIPA; I organized my 19th workshop in series on 'Online Procurement using Government e-Marketplace GeM portal' on 13th and 14th December, 2022 and delivered sessions with demonstrations solving practical problems of Sub Divisional Officers of UHBVNL Panchkula, Sub Divisional Magistrate Sirsa, Government Colleges and Irrigation and Water Resources Department of Haryana.
I am grateful to constantly guide the officers in improving the procurement systems as per the latest instructions and rules. If anyone is interested to participate, just inbox me to know the procedure to get enrolled in such workshops already scheduled in near future. 9416382720 - Dr. Lalit Setia.
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*Copyright © 2021 Dr.
Lalit Kumar. All rights reserved.
This article is
written by Dr. Lalit Kumar Setia; a renowned author and trainer. The article
was published on 4th September, 2021 and last updated on 4th September,
2021. The writer can be contacted on lalitkumarsetia@gmail.com
Next Articles associated with Governance:
https://drlalitsetia.blogspot.com/2021/07/how-person-caught-for-tax-evasion.html
and
https://drlalitsetia.blogspot.com/2021/08/responsibilities-of-head-of-accounting.html
A fruitful article Sir
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