Bengal govt bars staff from speaking to media, Abhishek calls it silencing dissent
West Bengal has directed employees and officers to seek prior approval before any media interaction, extending conduct rules to state-linked institutions. Abhishek Banerjee called it "remote-controlled governance" and alleged it undermines free expression by enforcing administrative silence and curbing criticism.
The BJP government in West Bengal has prohibited its employees and officers from speaking to the media without prior permission, according to a circular issued by Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal.
Lashing out at the new circular, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee alleged that it was like enforcing “complete prohibition” on government employees in West Bengal, calling it a warning to silence dissent.
In a post on X, he said the directive bars officials from speaking to the press, writing articles, appearing on media platforms or criticising the Centre or state government, calling it an attempt to “enforce silence” and curb free expression.
Banerjee further claimed the move reflects “remote-controlled governance” under the BJP and argued that it effectively “chokes fundamental rights” by forcing administrative silence and restricting criticism.
In the May 19 circular, Agarwal restated the conduct rules that apply to members of the All India Services, the West Bengal Civil Service, the West Bengal Police Service and other state government employees, setting out the scope and limits of their interaction with the media.
The circular referred to the All India Services Conduct Rules, 1968, the West Bengal Service (Duties, Rights and Obligations of Government Employees) Rules, 1980, and the West Bengal Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1959. It said these rules govern the nature of media engagement and place restrictions on such communication.
The order covers state government employees, staff of autonomous bodies, boards, corporations and undertakings, employees of educational institutions substantially funded by the government, and members of the All India Services serving in connection with the affairs of the state.
According to the circular, members of the services are under a complete prohibition, unless they have prior sanction, from taking part in or being associated with sponsored or privately produced media programmes, as well as media programmes sponsored by the Government of India but produced by an outside agency.
It also said there is a complete prohibition, unless backed by a government order, on any direct or indirect sharing of documents or information with the press by members of the services.
The circular further said government employees are barred, without prior government sanction, from contributing to the editing or management of any newspaper, periodical or other publication. It also prohibited them from taking part in radio broadcasts or writing articles or letters for newspapers or periodicals without such approval.
It additionally imposed a complete prohibition on government employees making any adverse criticism of the policies or decisions of the state government or the Central government through publications, media interactions, broadcasts, statements or any other form of communication.
The circular also said there is a complete prohibition on any publication, interaction, utterance, broadcast or media contribution that could strain ties between the state government and the Centre, between the state government and another state government, or between the Central government and the government of any foreign state.
Through the circular, the West Bengal government reiterated existing conduct rules and made clear that employees and officers across a wide range of state-linked institutions cannot engage with the media or make public comments in the manner described without prior approval.