A viral video in which tribal welfare secretary of Telangana A. Sharath was seen trying to touch the feet of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at a public meeting, apparently forced Telangana chief secretary K Ramakrishna Rao to issue a memo calling upon All India Services (AIS) officers to maintain professionalism and decorum in public meetings and gatherings.
The memo expressed concern over IAS officers indulging in acts and gestures that reflect poorly on the service and undermine public faith in their ability to serve.
This caution comes after several recent instances of IAS officers engaging in acts deemed unbecoming of their position.
The memo cites Rule 3 (1) of the AIS (Conduct) Rules, 1968, which requires AIS officers to maintain absolute integrity, devotion to duty, and behave in a manner befitting their position. It emphasises that AIS officers must uphold a high level of professionalism, integrity, and decorum in their official capacity and public interactions.
The memo clearly states that any officer found violating these instructions will be liable for disciplinary action. It emphasises the importance of upholding the dignity and integrity of the AIS.
The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.
