Shinde reminds Cabinet of conduct

In an official letter to all Cabinet members, the Chief Minister has asked them to do the following before March 31:

• Disclose to the Chief Minister the details of the assets and liabilities and of business interests of themselves and their families. That includes all immovable property and total approximate value of shares and debentures, cash holdings and jewellery.

• Sever all connections — short of giving up ownership — with the conduct and management of any business in which they had interests before appointment as Ministers. They can’t be directors or members in private companies or public corporations.

• If involved with a concern that supplies goods or services to the government, or to government undertakings, or whose business primarily depends on licences, permits, quotas, leases, received or to be received from government, divest themselves of all interests in the business and management.

• After taking office and so long as they remain in office, refrain from buying from or selling to the government any immovable property except when such property is compulsorily acquired by the government in ‘‘the usual course’’.

Shinde has also circulated the guidelines prescribed by the Centre on foreign tours, employment under a foreign government in India or abroad, acceptance of valuable gifts and participation in functions organised by foreign missions in India or abroad.

However, a minister can become the member of a senate, court of a university or committees of local self-government organisations.