West Bengal government issues fresh rules on media interaction by employees

The West Bengal government has issued a circular reiterating restrictions on how government employees interact with the media, publish content and communicate official information.

The circular, dated May 19, 2026, was issued by the Office of the Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal. It refers to conduct rules applicable to members of the All India Services (AIS), West Bengal Civil Service, West Bengal Police Service and other state government employees, including police and jail staff.

Circular cites existing conduct rules

The document states that the AIS Conduct Rules, 1968, West Bengal Service (Duties, Rights and Obligations of the Government Employees) Rules, 1980, and West Bengal Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1959 govern the conduct of government employees in the state.

Also Read | Nor’wester forecast for South Bengal: Which districts are likely to see rain?

According to the circular, these rules also define and regulate interactions between government employees and the media or press.

The order says the instructions are being reiterated “for strict compliance” by employees of the Government of West Bengal, autonomous bodies, boards, corporations, undertakings and educational institutions funded wholly or substantially by the state government.

Restrictions on media participation and communication

The circular lists several prohibitions related to media participation and sharing of information.

One of the points states, “Complete prohibition, except with prior sanction, on the participation or association of any member of the services in any sponsored or privately produced media program or any media program sponsored by the government of India but produced by an outside agency.”

It further says there is a “complete prohibition without any government order, on any direct or indirect communication of any document or information with the press by the members of the services”.

Another clause bars government employees from contributing to or managing newspapers, publications or radio broadcasts without prior approval from the government.

The circular also prohibits employees from publicly criticising government decisions or policies.

It states, “Complete prohibition on members of the services in indulging in any adverse criticism of any policy or decision of the central or the state government, by any publication, interaction, utterance, publication, broadcast, contribution in any media.”

Also Read | Bengal hands 7 highways to Centre, will it boost Chicken’s Neck infra?

Warning against content affecting government relations

The circular additionally cautions employees against any form of publication, interaction or broadcast that may affect relations between governments.

It states there is a “complete prohibition on any publication, interaction, utterance, publication, broadcast, contribution in any media, which can lead to straining of the relations of the state government with the central government or any state government/s or between central government and government of any foreign state/s.”