The Tamil Nadu Nurses Empowerment Association has condemned an order issued by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine instructing government employees not to criticise the policies, schemes, and actions of the Central or State governments in public, media or public meetings.
In a statement, the association said that the order curtailed the freedom of speech guaranteed to citizens by the Constitution.
The association said it would certainly oppose and discuss whenever the Central or State governments implement anti-people or anti-employee policies; privatise government institutions; fail to fill vacant posts in government departments; reduce employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth; appoint employees on a temporary contractual basis against permanent posts; fail to provide facilities for the public in the healthcare sector; fail to regularise the services of nurses employed on consolidated pay; fail to implement the High Court’s order to provide equal pay for equal work to nurses or fail to provide pensions due to government employees.
Employees and employee unions will certainly discuss these issues in public spaces, express their views on social media and take it forward through peaceful protests, it said.
The DPH had recently issued a circular stating employees of the directorate should not criticise the policies, schemes, and actions of the Central or State governments in public or through media (newspapers, radio, television, social media, memes) or during public meetings, not to express views that could affect the cordial relations with other governments and not to take part in any unofficial meetings where resolutions or speeches criticising the government are made. The director said disciplinary action would be taken against those who violate the rules.
Published - October 24, 2026 01:00 am IST