CHANDIGARH: Bureaucrats in Haryana could be penalised if they don’t stand up from their seats to receive MPs and MLAs visiting their departments. This is part of a fresh set of guidelines that the Haryana government has issued to its officers and includes lessons in etiquette as well.The circular from chief secretary’s office, which insists on showing deference to the elected representatives, says that the behaviour of the public servant should be “meticulously correct and courteous”. They have been told to rise from their chair to receive MPs and MLAs from their car, whenever they visit government offices.The circular has provided the copy of guidelines issued by the Union government’s department of personnel and training to all the administrative heads of all the departments for compliance. It has been made it clear that a public servant not complying these instructions may face action after an inquiry.Some bureaucrats, however, questioned the circular and wondered what they must do if an elected representative asks them to bend rules.In the circular, the officers have been specifically told not to ignore calls and messages left with their staff and that MPs and MLAs should get an immediate response. SMSs and emails too can’t be ignored. Officers better start working on their handwriting as well as they have also been told to respond to queries instantly and with legible replies. Besides, the language must be extremely polite and all requests have to be heard patiently.Even while holding public functions, MPs of the area have to be compulsorily invited and given comfortable seatting in accordance with protocol. If the constituency of an MP falls in two districts, officers of both districts must send invitations well in advance for all important functions.‘Deal with MPs, MLAs respectfully’The Haryana government has issued the guidelines after receiving a reference from the Centre about a parliamentary committee report on violation of protocol and contemptuous behaviour of government officers with MPs.The report was tabled in the Lok Sabha on January 4, 2018 and recommended that consolidated instructions and guidelines on official dealing between the administration and Members of Parliament and state legislature should be strictly complied with by all the government servants.A senior officer said on condition of anonymity that they almost always deals with MPs and MLAs respectfully.“But there are times when are told to bend rules to favour certain people,” the officer said. “That is when we are forced to put our foot down.”Another officer said, “If we listen to an MP’s request to go soft on a man arrested for a serious crime, it leads to public resentment and then we have to side with the public.”

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