Patna: The Bihar government has issued a strict advisory to its officials, warning them against criticising government policies on social media, radio or in newspapers, and cautioning that disciplinary action will be taken against those who violate the rules.
The directive was issued by CK Anil, principal secretary of the revenue and land reforms department, through an official letter outlining a revised code of conduct for department officials and employees. The letter states that government servants must refrain from publicly expressing opinions that contradict or criticise existing or newly introduced policies of the central or state government.
According to the order, officials are prohibited from publishing articles, issuing statements, or participating in radio broadcasts without prior government approval. The rule also applies to anonymous writings, content published under pseudonyms, or statements made through third parties.
The department has also warned employees against posting or sharing social media reels that criticise government policies. The letter notes that such activity will be treated as a violation of service conduct rules and may lead to strict disciplinary action if proven.
The advisory comes amid controversy surrounding the state government’s land reforms public welfare dialogue programme, which began on December 12, 2025. The initiative was launched by the state’s revenue and land reforms minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, as part of an effort to address land disputes across Bihar through district-level camps.
During these camps, several allegations were reportedly raised against circle officers (COs), revenue officers (ROs) and other department employees. Strong remarks by the minister over the functioning of revenue officials further escalated tensions within the department.
In response, some officials expressed dissatisfaction with the programme and wrote to the chief minister demanding that the public dialogue initiative be withdrawn. Revenue employees across the state have also staged protests, and the strike by some staff members is ongoing.
The latest directive appears aimed at preventing officials from publicly criticising the government during the ongoing dispute.
Similar restrictions have previously been imposed on Bihar police personnel. The state police headquarters had earlier warned officers against making social media reels while in uniform, and several personnel have faced disciplinary action for violating service rules.
