RBE No. 124/1988: Prohibition on Bidding
No.E(D&A)88/GS1-3, dated 15.06.1988
Sub: Prohibition on bidding by Government servants at the auctions arranged by their own Ministries/ Departments and Offices.
A copy of the Department of Personnel and Training’s Office Memorandum No.11013/20/87-Ests.(A), dated 18.02.1988 is enclosed herewith. The same may please be brought to the notice of all concerned for information and strict compliance.
The contents of Ministry of Home Affairs’ OM No.25/12/57-Ests.(A), dated 21.01.1958 referred to therein were communicated to the Railways etc. vide Board’s letter No.E(D&A)58 GS1-6, dated 15.03.1958 (copy enclosed).
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
OM No.11013/20/87-Ests.(A), dated 18th February 1988
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Prohibition on bidding by Government servants at the auctions arranged by their own Ministries/ Departments and Offices.
1. The undersigned is directed to say that instances have come to the notice of this Department where employees of the same Ministry of Department which conducted auctions of Government property were allowed to participate in the auction.
Attention in this regard is invited to the instructions contained in MHA’s OM No.25/12/57-Ests.(A), dated 21.01.1958 which prohibit Government servants from budding in the auctions arranged by their own Ministries/ Departments. A copy of this OM is enclosed.
2. Ministry of Agriculture etc. are requested to bring these instructions to the notice of all administrative authorities under their control for information and strict compliance.
Board’s letter No.E(D&A)58 GS1-6, dated 15.03.1958
Sub: Prohibition of Government servants from budding (either personally or by proxy) at Government auctions.
A question has been raised whether specific provision should be added to the Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1956, regarding participation by Railway servants in auctions of property owned or confiscated by Government.
The Board consider that even if the transaction is in fact free of any element of undue influence or dishonesty, the suspicion that all is not above board is bound to arise in cases where property sold at Governments auction is purchased by Government servants, particularly by buyers belonging to the same office as the one by which or under whose orders the auction is conducted.
While, therefore, it may not be necessary to frame a specific Conduct Rule for the purpose, it is obviously undesirable for Railway servants to bid at auctions arranged by their own office. Any Railway servant who does so would be regarded as indulging in conduct unbecoming a Railway servant within the meaning of the Conduct Rules.
The above instructions may please be brought to the notice of all Railway servants.