CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government has placed an officer posted with the agriculture and farmers’ welfare department under suspension for expressing opinion on social media on the farmers’ issues. Ranvir Singh Maan, working as technical assistant/ block agriculture officer in the office of deputy director (agriculture) Bhiwani, had posted comments on his Facebook page between September 10 and 19 expressing his opinion on farmers’ issues after the lathicharge by the Haryana police on farmers during a protest at Pipli in Kurukshetra district.
The Haryana agriculture department has now assured the Punjab and Haryana high court that it would take a decision on his case considering the fact that the officer will superannuate on December 31.
The HC has disposed of the matter while relying on the department’s undertaking and without deciding the issue on merit.
Maan was ordered to be suspended on September 25 and told to report at Panchkula based headquarters of the department.
In his plea before the HC, Maan had submitted his posts on Facebook were only to show sympathy with the farmers, there was no criticism of any government, hence the action of the government to suspend him was in violation of fundamental right of freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution.
He had also contended before the HC that it is very much clear from the definition of act misconduct provided under the rules that he had not committed any act of misconduct and the contents of the Facebook posts do not fall in the definition of act of misconduct as provided under the service rules.
“It only reveals from the post on Facebook that the petitioner was sympathizing with farmers as petitioner is working for welfare of farmers. Moreover there are no guidelines for social media and merely expressing opinion is not criticism of government. The petitioner cannot be prevented from expressing his views merely because he is an employee. In a democratic society, every government institution is governed by democratic norms. Healthy criticism is a better way of good governance,” Maan had argued in his plea before the HC.
The Haryana government has now assured the high court to take a decision within three weeks on the reply filed by him in pursuance to the show-cause notice issued to him regarding his controversial posts on social media.