IMPHAL, July 5: The Manipur government has issued a stern reminder to all current and former government functionaries, as well as non-official individuals, against the unauthorized use or possession of official documents marked ‘Secret’ or ‘Confidential’. The advisory comes in response to recent incidents where such materials were reportedly cited in appeals and representations.
An official memorandum issued by the Secretariat of the General Administration Department (GAD) highlighted that referencing or retaining classified documents—either partially or in full—is not only improper but also constitutes a violation of existing legal provisions. Specifically, it referred to Rules 8 to 11 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, and Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
The government warned that any person found violating these provisions may face prosecution, while serving government employees involved in such acts could be penalized under applicable disciplinary frameworks depending on the case-specific details.
The memorandum strongly urged all government employees, including those working in public sector undertakings (PSUs), autonomous bodies, boards, societies, agencies, commissions, companies, universities, and government-aided institutions, to refrain from accessing, retaining, or using classified materials without authorization.
