This State Govt Employees Will ‘Avoid’ Using Mobile In Offices; Voice Calls Via Mobile Discouraged By Govt

Amid the growing concerns and spats over allegations of illegally tapping mobile phones of (allegedly) over 300 Indians, including ministers, journalists and businesspersons, among others, the Maharashtra government has issued guidelines dictating the pattern and order of phone usage while in office.

These guidelines specify to make minimal use of mobile phones during office hours and instead use landline connection.

It also advises officials of the state government to follow proper phone etiquettes while speaking over a call in the office, in order to not malign the image of the government.

The order also clearly mentions to use limited social media via mobile phones, while in the office.

MH Government’s Guidelines for Phone Usage

The General Administration Department (GAD) has issued an order on Friday, which highlights etiquette and new directives on using mobile phones for state officials, while in office.

While the highlight of the guidelines issued by GAD for the state government officials is to avoid using mobile phones in office, there are other important directives issued too.

• Use of landline phones to be preferred over mobile phones for communication purposes.
• Mobile phones to be used only if absolutely required and then too, text messages should be chosen over phone calls.
• Use of social media through mobile phones should be limited during office hours.
• Maintain decorum while speaking over phone calls in the office.
• No use of derogatory languages while on a call in office hours, and no speaking loudly.
• Conversations made on phone calls should be conducted politely and in low voice.
• Officials are instructed to answer promptly to the calls of representatives/senior officers when busy on other calls.
• Officials are advised to answer important personal calls by stepping outside their workspace.
• Officials should not switch off their phones during official tours.