New Delhi, March 11
Member of Parliament Rajinder Gupta raised concerns in Rajya Sabha over the increasing use of personal social media platforms by senior government officials to highlight their official work, and urged the government to frame a clear and comprehensive policy to regulate such practices.
Participating in the discussion, Gupta observed that in recent years several senior bureaucrats, including officers from the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service, as well as officials connected with the judiciary, have increasingly been posting content related to official duties on their personal social media accounts.
While acknowledging the importance of transparency and public communication in governance, the MP said that the line between institutional communication and individual projection must remain clearly defined. He noted that in some cases videos of enforcement drives, inspections or raids are shared on personal handles in a dramatic format, sometimes accompanied by stylised visuals and music.
Gupta also pointed out that on certain occasions, information about official actions appears on personal social media accounts even before formal communication is issued through government channels. He said such instances raise questions about protocol and become particularly sensitive when they involve matters connected to judicial proceedings.
According to the MP, the growing trend highlights the need for updated regulatory guidelines in the digital era. He noted that existing frameworks such as the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 were framed long before the emergence of social media platforms.
Gupta urged the Government of India to formulate a comprehensive social media policy for public officials, clearly outlining the boundaries between official communication and personal platforms, safeguarding sensitive or sub-judicial information, and ensuring accountability in the use of digital media by those holding public office.
