"Shall Not Use Social Media For Offensive And Defamatory Statements Against Judiciary And Govt": Kerala High Court Issues Draft Code of Conduct For Officers/Staffs

The Draft was approved by the High Court's Administrative Committee in a meeting held on 22^nd March, 2021. It states:

• The High Court will have a Monitoring Cell to ensure proper use of computer and internet system provided in the courts.
• The Monitoring Cell will report instances of misuse of social media by staff members of the High Court and District Judiciary to the Registrar General.
• Staff members of the High Court and District Judiciary shall declare their e-mail address and social media accounts and they shall ensure proper use of the same.
• They shall not make or use any fake ID/ bogus social media account.
• They shall not indulge in use of internet, other than for official purposes, during office hours. They shall not indulge in any use of social media which causes depletion of work time in the office.
• They shall not access prohibited sites during working hours. They shall not use social media for any activities which affects the integrity, propriety and discipline of his/ her official position.
• They shall not indulge in exchange of communication of personal matters in official sites.
• They shall not use social media for making offensive, irresponsible or defamatory statements criticising policies and actions of the Government and its Institutions, Ministers, Officials, Heads of Departments, Judges, Political Leaders and Social Activists etc.
• They shall not indulge in criticising case laws and judgments of the courts, Judges or judicial system to scandalise them in social media.
• They shall be very careful in expressing or propagating any opinion on the Social Media which may offend any cultural, ethnic, social or religious group.
• They shall take care that no derogatory or insulting remarks, pertaining to any person, group of persons either official, socio-cultural or political shall be made on Social Media platform.
• They shall not publish any proceedings, official actions, records or data from the office files in social media or publish blogs on any matters in social media without prior permission of the High Court.

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