CONFIDENTIAL:
U.O Note No. 304/Ser.-C/96-1 Dated 8th May, 1996
SUB.:- Office
Procedure -- Maintenance of Official Secrecy - Certain Instructions --
Reiterated.
2. U.O, Note No.
824/Ser-C/86-5, dt. 6-1-1987.
3. U.O. Note No.
367/Ser-C/95-1, dt. 26-8-1995.
Instructions have been issued from time to time on maintenance of Official Secrecy suggesting preventive measures in regard to leakage of information. The procedure for classifying the files as secret or confidential and the box system of carrying files shall be followed strictly.
2. In spite of all these instructions, instances have come to the notice of Chief Minister that contents of confidential letters exchanged between the Heads of Departments and Secretaries to Government are appearing in the press. As per the existing instructions the confidential letters are to be handled at Secretaries level only.
3. If a letter is received by the Secretary on confidential issues or on matters relating to taxation, such letters should be handled at the level of the Principal Secretary/Secretary himself/herself and there should be no need to refer such letters to the lower-level functionaries. In the inevitable situation of having to send the letter to the lower-level functionary, it should be ensured that it does not go below a responsible level, and it should be ensured that strict confidentiality is maintained.
4. All Departments of Secretariat are requested to ensure that the above instructions are followed scrupulously.
5.
The receipt of this U.O. Note may be acknowledged.
