The Manipur Government has warned all government officials to exit from social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and other chat-groups engaged in furthering separatist, anti-national, anti-state, anti-social, communal, and divisive agendas which cause disturbance in existing peaceful social harmony and law and order situation of the State within 48 hours i.e by 6 pm of August 12, failing which appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated against those who do not exit from Social Media under relevant legal and applicable conduct Rules provisions.
The Special Secretary (Home) issued an office memorandum on Wednesday.
According to the office memorandum, it has been noticed that many formal and informal groups on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and other chat groups are engaged in furthering separatist, anti-national, anti-state, anti-social, Communal, and divisive agendas which cause disturbance in existing peaceful social harmony and law and order situation of the State. The members of these groups spread and push their respective agendas, indulge in spreading false information, hate speeches/videos, and share information that is not to be in the public domain.
It stated that many government officials including many senior officers are reportedly members of such anti-social groups inadvertently or by choice, thereby participating directly or indirectly in the furtherance of such separatist, anti-national, anti-state, anti-social, and divisive agendas.
It has also been noticed that some government employees are contributing, sharing, and commenting on blogging and microblogging sites in a manner unbecoming of a government employee. Participation of government officials in such groups may be construed as Involvement in activities of such groups/blogging sites which is in contravention of Rules 5 and 7 or both of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and Rules 5, 9, and 11 or all three of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and are liable for disciplinary action, it stated.