Dehradun: Uttarakhand government has allowed its government employees to participate in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) shakhas or any other cultural or social programs.
According to a new directive issued by Dhami government, employees of the state can now attend RSS activities and this will not be considered a violation of the Uttarakhand State Employees Conduct Rules of 2002.
Uttarakhand govt employees allowed to attend programs before or after duty hours
The order specified that state government employees are free to attend morning or evening RSS shakhas or any other similar cultural activities. It has also made it clear that participating in such activities will not go against the conduct rules set for state employees.
However, the government stated that participation in these programs should not interfere with the employees’ official duties and responsibilities. Employees are allowed to join these activities before or after their office hours.
Centre issued order on July 9
This decision follows a similar move by the central government, which had earlier issued a notification allowing government employees to take part in RSS programs. The central government’s Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had issued an order on July 9, 2024, removing previous restrictions on government employees’ participation in RSS activities.
The DoPT order had reviewed earlier instructions from 1966, 1970, and 1980, which prohibited such participation, and allowed central government employees to join RSS events.
While the move has been welcomed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS, opposition parties, including Congress, have voiced strong criticism. They claim that the decision aims to politicise government offices and employees by promoting a particular ideological group. The opposition has expressed concerns that such policies could blur the lines between government service and political or ideological activities.
