NEW DELHI, July 9: Prime Minister I K Gujral's claims to greater transparency in governance and the right to information notwithstanding, his government is all set to muzzle the media's chief source of information: the bureaucracy.

Stung by the Joginder Singh experience, the government has told the Department of Personnel to review the guidelines relating to levels of officials who are allowed to brief the media on matters of policy.Several government secretaries have already issued verbal orders to officials in high-profile ministries and enforcement agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate and the Intelligence Bureau, ``not to speak out of turn''. The ostensible rationale offered to bureaucrats for the clamp is that multiple briefings to the media has resulted in confusion over vital policy matters and breakdown of service discipline.

Currently, joint secretaries and above in the ministries and Director-level officials in Public Sector Units and enforcement agencies are allowed to comment on matters relating to policy.

But this will soon change. Sources say that the new guidelines are expected to be extremely tough and limit communication between government and the media to Secretary-level officials. The new guidelines will also spell out policy relating to senior officials meeting foreigners and reporting it to the government. Currently, officials of the level of Joint Secretary and above do not have to file reports on meetings with foreign embassy officials. This too is expected to change.

Sources revealed that Intelligence Bureau Director Arun Bhagat recently issued a directive forbidding ``unauthorised informal contact with foreigners and the media.'' The directive went to say that all such ``contact'' would have to be explained to him in the form of a written report. Senior IB officials were also told verbally that ``any noticeable contact of a fellow official with any media person should be mentioned.''

This virtually amounts to asking officials to spy on each other.Says a disgusted Special Director of the IB: ``Things have come to such a pass that we are being asked to keep an eye on each other. And what is worse is that many of us are doing so. Everyone is scared of the consequences of not following the orders.

Revenue Secretary N K Singh last week ticked off ED Director M K Bezbaruah and officially forbade him from having any contact with the press. All ED officials were warned about ``leaks'' and told that if found guilty ``strong action'' would be taken. When contacted by The Indian Express, Bezbaruah said: ``I have been forbidden from talking to the press.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.