Maharashtra: Officials need not stand up to greet convicted MLAs, MPs or those facing inquiries

Government officials in Maharashtra will no longer have to stand up and greet MLAs or MPs if they have been convicted in a criminal case, summoned for an inquiry or hearing, or are visiting the office for election-related work.

Maharashtra’s general administration department issued a circular to this effect on Tuesday.

It amended an earlier directive dated November 20, which had stated that when members of the state legislature or members of Parliament visit officials, the officials should stand up and greet them when they arrive and when they depart.

The amended directive states: “If a public representative has been convicted in a criminal or other case, or has been summoned as an appellant or a party for an inquiry/hearing, or is present in a government office for election-related processes [such as filing nomination papers, scrutiny, or hearings], officials are not required to stand up or greet the Member of the Legislative Assembly / Parliament upon their arrival or departure.”

The circular, signed by Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, said that in such situations, officials should treat elected representatives like ordinary citizens without any special protocols.

The directive from November 20, which consolidated all previous government resolutions on how to interact with public representatives, had been issued after several MLAs complained that they were...

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