Raipur
Taking a U-turn, the Chhattisgarh government has withdrawn a controversial order that had prohibited state employees from participating in political activities. The General Administration Department issued the stay on 22 April 2026.
The initial directive, released on 21 April 2026, had restricted government servants from joining political parties or organisations. It also barred employees from holding posts in any committee or association without prior approval. The government had warned that any violation would attract disciplinary action under the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1966.
However, a fresh order issued on 22 April 2026 put these instructions on hold until further notice. Deputy Secretary Anshika Pandey confirmed the suspension of the earlier directive.
The Chhattisgarh Karmachari Adhikari Federation strongly opposed the restriction. Convener Kamal Verma said that employee organisations represent demands to the government through democratic processes. The federation submitted a formal protest to senior officials of the General Administration Department, after which the government decided to withdraw the order.
