CS asks UP officials to follow govt protocols, be courteous with MPs and MLAs

Lucknow: Officers of the UP govt will be required to courteously receive visiting MPs and MLAs by rising from their seats, offering water, patiently listening to their issues or complaints, before seeing them off with due respect.In a detailed note issued to all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, district magistrates and police department heads, Chief secretary SP Goyal referred to 15 govt orders issued between Oct 18, 2017, and Feb 11, 2026, directing officials to adhere to protocols while dealing with public representatives.“Unfortunately, these orders have been grossly flouted by several officers and govt employees,” the CS noted. He warned that officials found violating the directives would be deemed guilty of breaching the UP State Employees’ Service Conduct Rules, 1956, and would face action under the UP Govt Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999.Rule 3(2) of the UP Govt Servants Conduct Rules, 1956, reads: “Every govt servant shall, at all times, conduct himself in accordance with the specific or implied govt orders regulating the conduct and behaviour.”The development comes close on the heels of MLAs raising the issue in the UP assembly, accusing the officials of not even answering their phones.The issue also attains significance even as the sitting MLAs start hitting the poll terrain of their constituencies with an eye on assembly elections due early next year.Goyal noted that detailed guidelines were issued, pursuant to the various govt orders, to ensure strict adherence to the prescribed etiquette, protocol and courtesy towards MPs and legislators.According to the directives, the officials must compulsorily save/store the CUG numbers — or any other mobile numbers provided by the MPs/MLAs — in their own mobile devices.Furthermore, officials are required to answer incoming calls from these members. In case the official concerned is unavailable or attending a meeting at the time of the call, they must, upon becoming aware of the missed call, prioritise calling back the public representative as soon as possible, accompanied by an appropriate message.Additionally, officials have been directed to resolve matters raised during phone calls by the MPs and MLAs with the utmost quality and efficiency possible, and to duly apprise the members of the resolution status.