The Madras High Court bench here has held that government employees could be prohibited from being members of political parties and it would not amount to denying their fundamental rights.
Dismissing a writ petition by an employee of Civil Supplies Department Justice S Nagamuthu said “such prohibition will come under the purview of reasonable restrictions imposed on the fundamental rights.”
Though a person could not be denied entry into government service on the sole ground that he was involved in active politics, he could not be allowed to continue it after taking up government jobs as it would not be in the interest of discipline or proper discharge of duties attached to the service.
“If any employee chooses to serve the nation by being a member of a political party, he can do so without continuing as a government servant. If he chooses to serve the nation as a government servant then he should forego his involvement in politics,” the judge said.
