(a) To communicate any information, which might directly or indirectly assist an enemy, to any person other than a person to whom they are authorized to communicate it, or a person to whom it is, in the interests of the State, their duty to communicate it.
(b) To make any statement of fact or opinion which may give rise to a controversy or which is capable of embarrassing: -
(i) The relations between the Government of India or a State Government, and the citizens of India.
(ii) The relations between the Government of India and any foreign country.
(2) Any information of a professional nature obtained when traveling or employed on duty is the property of the Government. No such information shall be published in any form either anonymously or otherwise except with the prior permission of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
(3) It is an offence against the Indian Official Secrets Acts, 1923 (XIX of 1923), for a person whether still belonging to the Naval service or not, to divulge an y classified information, or any information acquired by him as a member of the Naval service unless authorised by the Chief of the Naval Staff to do so.
(4) An officer who has ceased to be on the Active List, wishing to publish any information acquired by him as a member of the Naval service, as a book or newspaper article or otherwise, should, in his own interest, obtain the prior permission of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
(5) When instruction is given in classified matters, care should be taken to explain what is classified and what is not, and officers and sailors should be reminded of this regulation and warned that the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (XIX of 1923), will still apply to them after they have left the Naval service.
3404. Classified Books and Documents. (1) Every care shall be taken in the handling of classified books and documents and the Captain shall ensure that all persons who have to deal with them, or to handle keys giving access to them, are fully conversant with the detailed instructions issued on the subject. See also regulation 3706 on “Handling of Classified Documents”.
(2) Care shall be taken that all books and documents, such as rough signal and deck logs, which may contain classified matter are burnt when no longer required.
3405. Secrecy Regulations. The Captain shall ensure that the instructions of the Government of India governing visits of persons not in the service, and the communication of information to such visitors, are carefully observed.
3406. Publications, Broadcasts and Public Speeches dealing with Naval Matters. (1) Prior permission of the Government of India must always be obtained before publication in book or other form information relating to th Naval service, and this requirement includes in particular the following: -
(a) The publication of any wireless message, cable or other communications received or intercepted through Naval channels or of the fact that any such communication has been received or intercepted.
(b) The publication in the press or otherwise, directly or indirectly, of matter or information relating to the Naval service or any criticism thereof, or anything of a controversial nature affecting other departments of the Government of India or of a State Government or relating to matters of public policy.
(c) Accounts of current or recent Service operation, these, if involving security, diplomatic or political considerations, will not be permitted. However, if they do not involve these considerations (e.g. reports of ‘flag showing cruises’), such accounts will receive consideration in accordance with the procedure set out in this subregulation.
(2) Permission will not normally be given for the publication of books of memoirs or reminiscences of their Naval career by authors who are still serving. Individuals are therefore advised to consult the Chief of the Naval Staff before embarking upon the preparation of such accounts with a view to publication.
(3) Matters for publication must be submitted to the Chief of the Naval Staff through the usual service channels in duplicate and in typescript. The Commanding officers shall scrutinize the drafts and ensure that attention is invited to any undesirable reference to local happenings or personalities, the significance of which would not necessarily be apparent to the Chief of the Naval Staff. The Commanding officers shall not make any amendment, nor refuse to forward such documents for the Chief of the Naval Staff’s consideration, and any remarks which they may wish to make, should be forwarded separately. In order to avoid delay, Commanding officers may at their discretion forwarded the draft document with their remarks direct to the Chief of the Naval Staff instead of to their Administrative Authority. The usual channels for correspondence must, however, be followed if the document appears objectionable or if it deals with current local matters or with any question with which the Administrative Authority is likely to be concerned. Copies of articles shall not be forwarded to prospective publishers before the Government of India approves publication. The approved articles may be published under the author’s own name.
(4) Public Speeches and Broadcasts. Members of the Naval service must always obtain the permission of the Chief of the Naval Staff to deliver publicity or broadcast any lecture or read any paper dealing with the subjects mentioned in subregulation (3) and regulation 3403 (2) or to make any public speech dealing with such subjects in which opinions may be expressed which are likely to give rise to controversy. Applications for permission to deliver lectures shall be submitted to the chief of the Naval Staff through the usual service channels accompanied by the full text of the proposed lecture in duplicate and in typescript. In cases, however, of IN Ships abroad when a reference to the Chief of the Naval Staff is not possible, the prior concurrence of the Consular or Diplomatic Representative, of India at the station, will be obtained and where there is no such representative the Senior Officer may use his discretion subject to the other provisions of this regulation.
(5) Whenever a Senior Officer of the Indian Navy accepts an invitation to a public reception he shall, when attending such a reception, in his reply, if any, confine himself to an expression of thanks on his own behalf and on behalf of officers and sailors under his command, and an appreciation of the co-operation received from the local civil authorities. See regulation 019 (gifts) and regulation 0122 (Public Receptions in honour of IN personnel).
(6)(a) The Administrative Authorities may, in order to maintain close and friendly relations with the press, give them reasonable assistance and facilities. The Administrative Authorities may give informal Press conferences or handouts subject to restrictions given in this regulation and orders issued from time to time, provided controversial issues are avoided, matters of policy are not divulged, and due regard is paid to security. These press conferences or ‘handouts’ must relate to matters of fact and impending events only. Any opinions regarding matters of policy shall not be expressed. The Public Relations officer should be present at such briefings. He should be provided with unclassified background material from which he can prepare a handout for distribution to the Press
(b) Lectures. Suitable officers may be permitted to lecture at schools, etc., subject to restrictions in this regulation.
(7) The instructions in this regulation apply to all serving officers and silors.
They do not apply to those temporarily released from service. Such persons are governed by regulation 3403 (4).
(8) Articles on service subjects in a Service Journal may not be submitted to the Chief of the Naval Staff for approval. The editors shall vet them from security point of view and in cases of doubt, refer the matter to the chief of the Naval Staff for clearance.