The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has warned its employees of disciplinary action if they indulge in criticism of the government and its GST policies.

The move comes after Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) officers and All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers among others suggested changes in Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) and composition of Revenue Secretary-led GST Council Secretariat.

"Of late, it has been noticed that some associations or federations have commented adversely on the government and its policies. It may be brought to the notice of all associations or federations that if anyone indulges in criticism of the government and its policies, appropriate action (including disciplinary action) shall be taken," an order issued recently by the CBEC said.

It cited service rules that bar any government servant from making any adverse criticism of any policy or action of the government.

"No government servant shall, in any radio broadcast, telecast through any electronic media or in any document published in his own name or anonymously, pseudonymously or in the name of any other person or in any communication to the press or in any public utterance, make any statement of fact or opinion which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the central government or state government," the service rules say.

Citing existing norms, the CBEC said the primary objective of the service associations is to promote common service interest of its members.

Besides service associations, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has also been opposing majority stake for private entities in GSTN and has already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi objecting to this.

The central government holds 24.5 per cent stake in GSTN while state governments together hold another 24.5 per cent. The balance 51 per cent equity is with non-government financial institutions, like HDFC, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and LIC Housing Finance.

"Management of GSTN be entrusted to Directorate General, Systems of CBEC, as GSTN is a newly created Special Purpose Vehicle, which does not have any experience in implementing any IT project or domain knowledge in Indirect Tax laws," the IRS association had said in a statement.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, had recently approved 'Project Saksham' of the CBEC.

The total project cost involved is Rs 2,256 crore which will be incurred over a period of seven years.