Himachal Police personnel can’t post reels, religious and political views on social media

The Himachal Pradesh Police personnel will no longer be allowed to post reels, pictures, videos having content for entertainment purpose for self promotion and express religious, social, political or personal views on social media platforms while being in the uniform. The Police Department has prohibited these activities in order to maintain the dignity, discipline and institutional decorum of the uniform.

DGP Ashok Tewari has issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for police personnel to follow with immediate effect. As per the SOPs, police personnel have been prohibited from uploading content having no direct connection with their duties or departmental work.

The police personnel will also not be allowed to share any policing-related information, investigation status, crime-related material, identity of accused or victims, videos of duty locations, etc. on their personal social media accounts. Besides, unauthorised circulation of any government document, order, correspondence, wireless message, case diary or departmental information will also be prohibited.

The police personnel will also not be allowed to make any comments about the government policies, decisions of the police headquarters, police-related matters as well as any official works on their social media handles.

The SOPs state that only those officers and personnel, who have been authorised in writing by the competent authority, can post any content on the departmental social media handles such as press notes, public awareness campaigns and official information related to law and order.

The failure to follow these orders will be considered gross misconduct and will lead to a departmental inquiry, withholding of increments, demotion, suspension or dismissal from service. “If any criminal element is found in the act, criminal prosecution will be initiated against the guilty personnel,” the SOPs state.

To ensure compliance with the orders, the DGP has directed all DSPs, Commandants and Station House Officers (SHOs) to ensure that all police personnel are properly informed about the SOPs. The SHOs have also been directed to periodically review the compliance of the SOPs as well as immediately report any violation to senior officers.

The DGP stated that the step had been taken to safeguard the public image of the police as well as maintain public trust in them. “These SOPs will help in preventing the misuse of social media and will also put an end to the unauthorised circulation of sensitive, confidential and official information regarding the police,” he added.

He said that these SOPs had been issued under the provisions of the Rule 11 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964; Information Technology Act, 2000; Himachal Pradesh Police Act, 2007; and the Punjab Police Rules (as applicable in Himachal Pradesh), as well as the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with directions issued by the state government and the police headquarters from time to time.