THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what is perceived to be an infringement on artistic freedom of government employees, an order has been issued mandating employees to get prior sanction from the government before engaging in any form of artistic endeavours.
Simply put, from now on government employees who wish to publish books or participate in TV programmes, act in serials or films may have to get a written sanction from the state government first.
The order issued by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department (ARD) puts forth new provisions in the code of conduct in this regard.
According to the order, the employees who wish to publish a book will have to give in writing the details about the publisher, the person who pens the preface and even the price of the book. Further, the writer has to submit an affidavit that the book is charged at a fair price. Incidentally, the GO makes it mandatory for the employee to give an affidavit that the book is bereft of any anti-national content and anything critical of the interest of the government and its policies.
Responding to the issue, former Additional Chief Secretary and writer Babu Paul said he and Malayattoor Ramakrishnnan had published books while serving in the government service.
“If we get the remuneration for such works, it was natural for us to report the same to the Chief Secretary and the issue used to end there. But now, the government might have been prompted to issue such an order in view of the security situation prevailing in the country.”
Noted critic K S Ravi Kumar pointed out that a similar situation had prevailed in the 1970s and early 80s.
Writers like K Surendran had to quit his job following objection from the government. Cartoonist P K Manthri was suspended from service for his cartoon on then Education Minister C H Mohammed Koya.
ARD Principal Secretary K Ajayakumar, who issued the order, said he was just following instructions from the higher-ups.
“I haven’t looked into the practical difficulties in implementing the order.If there is a complaint, I am ready to look into it and forward the same to the Chief Minister for review,” he said.