Section 17 in Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Employees Conduct) Rules, 2001
17. Vindication of acts and character of panchayat employee.
(1)No panchayat employee shall, except with the previous sanction of the concerned panchayat, have recourse to the press for the vindication of any official act which has been the subject matter of adverse criticism or an attack of defamatory character.Explanation. - Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to prohibit a panchayat employee from vindicating his private character or any act done by him in his private capacity and where any action for vindicating his private character or any act done by him in private capacity, the panchayat employee shall submit a report to the panchayat regarding such action.(2)No panchayat employee shall, except with the previous sanction of the panchayat, accept from any person or body of person compensation of any kind for any malicious prosecution brought against him or for any defamatory attack made on his public acts or character unless such compensation has been awarded by a competent Court.
