The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), an organization of former civil servants, has called for the immediate withdrawal of a controversial directive that permits members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to join the civil services. The group has expressed deep concern over this directive, arguing that it undermines the neutrality and secular nature of the civil services, which are foundational principles of the Indian Constitution.

The CCG has emphasized that allowing affiliation with a specific ideological organization like the RSS could compromise the impartiality of civil servants, who are expected to serve the public without bias. The group has warned that this move could set a dangerous precedent, eroding the professional integrity of the civil services and leading to a politicization of the bureaucracy.

In their statement, the CCG highlighted the importance of maintaining the separation between civil services and political or ideological organizations, to ensure that governance remains fair, objective, and aligned with constitutional values. They have urged the government to reconsider and withdraw the directive in order to preserve the apolitical nature of India’s civil services.