The Madhya Pradesh High Court praised the Union government’s decision to lift a longstanding ban on government employees participating in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities, recognizing the move as a correction of a nearly five-decade-old oversight. The court expressed this view while disposing of a petition filed by a retired Central government employee.
The bench, comprising Justices Sushruta Arvind Dharmadhikari and Gajendra Singh, commented on the resolution of a case brought by Purushottam Gupta, who challenged the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules. These rules, along with specific office memorandums from the Centre, previously barred government employees from engaging in activities associated with the RSS.
“The court notes with regret that it took the Central government almost half a century to correct this mistake, finally acknowledging that an internationally renowned organization like the RSS should never have been categorized among banned organizations,” stated the bench.
The lifting of the ban comes after Gupta, who retired from the Central Warehousing Corporation in 2022, filed his petition in September last year. He argued that the restrictions had unfairly curtailed the aspirations of numerous Central government employees over the years.
In response to the court’s decision, the Department of Personnel and Training along with the Ministry of Home Affairs has been directed to prominently display the July 9 office memorandum on their official websites. This document officially announces the removal of the ban, ensuring that it is easily accessible and known to the public.
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“This step is taken to ensure that all government employees and the general public are well-informed about the change in policy,” the court added. Furthermore, within 15 days of the court’s judgment, the same document is to be circulated to all departments and undertakings of the Central Government across the nation.
