Section 13 in Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Employees Conduct) Rules, 2001
13. Criticism of panchayat and Government.
(1)No panchayat employee shall in any radio broadcast or in any document published anonymously or in the name of any other person or in any communication to the press or in any public utterance make any statement of fact or opinion, -(i)which has effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the Central Government or a State Government, or a panchayat; or(ii)which is capable of embarrassing the relations between the State Government and any other Government or panchayat; or(iii)which is capable of embarrassing the relations between the Central Government and the Government of any foreign State: Provided that in the case of panchayat employee nothing contained in this rule apply to bona fide expression of views by him as an office bearer of any recognized association of panchayat employees for the purpose of safeguarding the conditions of service of panchayat employee or for securing an improvement thereof.(2)A panchayat employee shall not, except in the discharge of his official duties, preside over or take part in the organization of, or occupy a prominent position at, or address any non-official meeting or conference at which it is likely that speeches may be or resolutions may be proposed or passed criticizing the action of the Government and panchayat or requesting the Government and panchayat to take certain action other than to make grants admissible under the Government/panchayat rules or orders in support of educational or similar institutions.(3)A panchayat employee who intends to publish any document or to make any communication to the press or to deliver any utterance containing statements in respect of which any doubt as to the application of the restrictions imposed by this rule may arise, shall submit to the panchayat a copy of draft of the documents which he intends to publish or of the utterance which he intends to deliver and shall thereafter act in accordance with such orders as may be passed by the panchayat.
