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CBR officials warned against leaking 'secret' information

ISLAMABAD: The Chairman, Central Board of Revenue has warned CBR officials of disciplinary action for communicating any information 'supposed to be secret', to the Press.

The CBR chairman has also charged the Press of using information to suit the mala fide intentions of the board officials, according to a circular issued to all officers of the CBR, copy of which was made available to Fortuna on Wednesday.

"It has been observed with great concern that sometimes a piece of information, supposed to be secret, is communicated to unauthorised persons with mala fide intentions or due to absolute carelessness. In this connection Rule 18 of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964 (is brought to the notice of all the CBR officials)", reads the circular dated January 6, and circulated among the staff on Wednesday.

The circular mentions information "supposed to be secret" rather than secret information.

Rule-18 of the Government Servant (Conduct) Rules, 1964, prohibits unauthorised communication of official documents or information. The Rule headed "Unauthorised communication of official documents or information" reads: "No government servant shall, except in accordance with any special or general order of the government, communicate directly or indirectly any official documents or information to a government servant unauthorised to receive it, or to a non-official person, or to the Press".

The CBR has threatened its officials of action under Government Servant (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973, if they are found to involved in any act in violation of Rule-18 of Government Servant (Conduct) Rules, 1964.ÑFortuna