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Uttam Khobragade defends daughter, says Devyani didn't violate service rules

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Indian Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade
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Asserting that freedom of expression is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, Devyani Khobragade's father Uttam Khobragade on Saturday defended his daughter stating that she did not violate any service rules by speaking to the media.

"Who says that government officer has to take the permission of the government for speaking to the media. There is no rule on this earth which says that government officer should not talk to the press without government permission. Hence talking to the press doesn't violate any service rule," Khobragade said.

He added, "On the contrary it is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, every citizen including the government servant does have a fundamental right, which is called freedom of expression. And this freedom of expression includes talking to the press, which doesn't require government permission."

Citing Indian Civil Service rules, Devyani's father defended his daughter saying that she did not speak anything which was against the government.

"As per rule 9 of Indian Civil Service rules, when government officers speak to the media he should not criticize government's act or policy. So, when Devyani talked to the press, she has not uttered a single word, either about the government or against the government," he said.

"On the contrary rule 19 of the Indian Civil Service rules specifically state that government officer can go to the media or press to vindicate any criticism of his act or character," he added.

He also said that the Indian Civil Service rules doesn't prevent Devyani from talking to the press about the ill-treatment that she had to face last year while she was serving as a diplomat in the US.

"So, as per the Indian Civil Service rule nothing prevents Devyani from going to the press to talk about the ill-treatment given to her in USA. While doing that only she cannot criticize the government, and Devyani has not done so. So, there is absolutely no violation of the service rule by Devyani," he said.

According to reports, the government has placed Khobragade under 'compulsory watch' after she spoke to the media without seeking permission.

Khobragade, a 1999 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, was arrested and strip-searched in New York in December last year on charges of ill-treating her domestic help. The incident had led to a major diplomatic row between the two countries.

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