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Published : 21 May 2026, 02:44 PM
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has issued strict guidelines that limit top government officials from making comments to the media, publishing government documents or sharing information, to appearing on media programmes, reports Kolkata-based publication Anandabazar.
The directive issued to the administration and personnel department on Wednesday is part of a swathe of strict action by the chief minister since taking power, the report states.
The notice, signed by Chief Secretary Manoj Agrawal, has been sent to all the departments, commissioners, the district administrations and the police administration in the state.
It said its instructions should be circulated quickly to all offices and implemented rigorously.
Anandabazar says the directive comes in the wake of recent complaints that government employees are making comments to the media, expressing their opinions on social media, and leaking administrative information.
Sources informed the publication that the state government is strictly monitoring communication between government officials, employees, and the media.
According to the new guidelines, this rule will also apply to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS), West Bengal Police Service (WBPS) officers as well as other government employees of the state, jail staff, government-aided educational institutions, boards, municipalities, municipal corporations and autonomous bodies.
The notice says states that no government employee will be able to participate in any media programme without the prior permission of the government, Anandabazar says.
Even for privately prepared or sponsored programmes, the permission of the concerned authorities has been made mandatory for attendance.
The handing over of government information, documents, and administrative papers has been barred – both directly and indirectly.
“No employee will be able to write articles in newspapers or magazines, nor be associated with the editing or management of any newspaper,” Anandabazar says.
“The same rule will also apply to giving speeches on radio or other broadcast media. Most importantly, government employees have been asked to refrain from publicly making adverse comments or criticisms against the policies and decisions of the central or state government. Any statement or publication that has a negative impact on the centre-state relations or India's relations with foreign countries will be considered punishable.”
As per the Kolkata-based publication, a section of the administration says the directives restrict government employees’ free expression, while others say it is a way to maintain discipline and prevent the misuse of government information.
The West Bengal administration says that communication will be regularly monitored to ensure the restrictions are adhered to strictly. Departmental action may be taken against any employee who violates the code of conduct, the notice added.
