In a move to curb distractions, the Kerala High Court has imposed a ban on the use of social media by its employees during office hours, including lunch breaks. The decision comes after an assessment revealed that activities such as playing online games, browsing social media, watching movies, and engaging in online trading were affecting the focus and productivity of the staff.
The court issued a circular on December 2, mandating that mobile phones should only be used for official work during office hours, with exceptions only during lunch breaks. The circular also warned of serious consequences for any violation of this directive.
The court emphasized that these distractions were disrupting the smooth functioning of daily office tasks, particularly court proceedings, with complaints about employees using mobile phones in office verandas. The staff association raised concerns over the negative impact of excessive mobile phone usage.
This isn’t the first such directive; similar bans were enforced in 2009 and 2013 for senior officers and drivers. The latest move reflects the court’s continued effort to maintain focus and efficiency within the workplace.
