Rule 4 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964: Employment of Near Relatives
Rule 4 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 regulates situations in which a family member of a Central Government servant takes employment in a company or firm. Its purpose is to prevent nepotism, misuse of official influence and conflicts between private family interests and public duties.
What Rule 4 covers
Rule 4 contains three connected safeguards. First, it prohibits the use of official influence to secure employment for a family member. Second, it imposes permission and intimation requirements where family employment may overlap with official dealings. Third, it requires the Government servant to withdraw from official matters involving an employer or person in whom the Government servant or a family member has an interest.
Rule 4 - Employment of near relatives of Government servants in companies or firms
Rule 4(1): No Government servant shall use his position or influence directly or indirectly to secure employment for any member of his family in any company or firm.
Rule 4(2)(i): No Group A officer shall, except with the previous sanction of the Government, permit his son, daughter or other dependant to accept employment in any company or firm with which he has official dealings or in any other company or firm having official dealings with the Government.
Proviso: Where acceptance of the employment cannot await prior permission or is otherwise urgent, the matter shall be reported to the Government, and the employment may be accepted provisionally subject to Government permission.
Rule 4(2)(ii): A Government servant shall, as soon as he becomes aware that a member of his family has accepted employment in a company or firm, intimate the acceptance to the prescribed authority and also state whether he has or has had official dealings with that company or firm.
The intimation under Rule 4(2)(ii) is not necessary for a Group A officer who has already obtained sanction or sent the required report to the Government under Rule 4(2)(i).
Rule 4(3): A Government servant shall not, while discharging official duties, deal with a matter or give or sanction a contract involving a company, firm or other person where a member of his family is employed, or where the Government servant or a family member has another interest in the matter or contract. Such matter or contract must be referred to the official superior and dealt with according to that authority's instructions.
Meaning of "member of family"
Rule 2 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules gives an extended meaning to "members of family". It includes the spouse of the Government servant, subject to the exception for a spouse separated by decree or order of a competent court; a wholly dependent son, daughter, stepson or stepdaughter; and another relative by blood or marriage who is wholly dependent on the Government servant.
For the site's related provision, see Rule 2 - Definitions.
Practical effect of Rule 4
| Situation | Requirement under Rule 4 |
|---|---|
| Using official influence to obtain a job for a family member | Prohibited. |
| Group A officer's son, daughter or dependant proposes to join a company or firm connected with official dealings | Previous Government sanction is ordinarily required. |
| Employment is urgent and cannot await prior permission | Report the matter to Government; employment may be accepted provisionally subject to permission. |
| A Government servant learns that a family member has accepted employment in a company or firm | Intimate the prescribed authority and disclose whether there are or have been official dealings, subject to the Rule 4(2)(i) exception. |
| Official work concerns a company, firm or person connected with a family member's employment or other interest | Do not deal with the matter personally. Refer it to the official superior. |
Why the rule matters
Rule 4 is a conflict-of-interest safeguard. It does not generally prohibit family members of Government servants from taking private employment. Instead, it controls the Government servant's use of influence, requires disclosure or prior sanction in specified situations, and prevents the officer from handling official business where a family connection may compromise impartiality.
Official reference
The Institute of Secretariat Training and Management, Government of India, publishes an official CCS (Conduct) Rules resource and describes Rule 4 as dealing with restrictions on employment of family members in companies or firms connected with official dealings. The official resource can be consulted at ISTM - CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964.
Article reviewed for current presentation: September 14, 2026.