Rule 15 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964: Private Trade or Employment

Rule 15(1): Activities requiring previous sanction

Subject to sub-rule (2), no Government servant shall, except with the previous sanction of the Government:

1. engage directly or indirectly in any trade or business;
2. negotiate for, or undertake, any other employment;
3. hold an elective office, or canvass for a candidate or candidates for an elective office, in any body, whether incorporated or not;
4. canvass in support of any business of insurance agency, commission agency, etc., owned or managed by any member of his family;
5. take part, except in the discharge of official duties, in the registration, promotion or management of any bank or other company registered or required to be registered under the Companies Act or any other law for the time being in force, or of any co-operative society for commercial purposes; or
6. participate in or associate himself in any manner in the making of:
   1. a sponsored media (radio or television) programme;
   2. a media programme commissioned by Government media but produced by a private agency; or
   3. a privately produced media programme, including a video magazine.

Proviso: Previous permission is not necessary where the Government servant participates, in his official capacity, in a programme produced or commissioned by Government media.

Rule 15(2): Activities permitted without previous sanction

A Government servant may, without previous sanction of the Government:

1. undertake honorary work of a social or charitable nature;
2. undertake occasional work of a literary, artistic or scientific character;
3. participate in sports activities as an amateur;
4. take part in the registration, promotion or management, not involving the holding of an elective office, of a literary, scientific or charitable society, club or similar organisation whose aims relate to sports, cultural or recreational activities and which is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or another law in force; or
5. take part in the registration, promotion or management, not involving an elective office, of a co-operative society substantially for the benefit of Government servants and registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 or another law in force.

These permissions remain subject to two conditions: the Government servant must discontinue the activity if directed by the Government; and, for activities covered by clauses (d) and (e), official duties must not suffer and the nature of participation must be reported to the Government within one month.

Rule 15(3): Family trade or business

Every Government servant must report to the Government if any member of his family is engaged in a trade or business or owns or manages an insurance agency or commission agency.

Rule 15(4): Acceptance of fee

Unless general or special Government orders provide otherwise, a Government servant may not accept any fee for work done for a private or public body or for a private person without the sanction of the prescribed authority.

Explanation: The word fee has the meaning assigned to it in Fundamental Rule 9(6-A).