Page 14 - Bengal Records Manual, 1943.doc

Compendium on Acts and Rules

48. Copies of the Forward Diary may be obtained on indent from the Press and
Forms Manager, "Bengal.

F.—Rules for the treatment of confidential correspondence.
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49. The rules received with Government Circular No. 875P., dated 10 Confidential
communicati
March 1905, regarding despatch and preservation of confidential ons.

communications, which are given below should be carefully noted, and adhered to
by all officers through whose hands confidential communications may pass.

50. When confidential papers are transmitted "by post they should be placed
in. double covers, the inner cover being sealed, marked "Confidential"—and

superscribed with the name only of the officer for whom they are intended, the
outer cover being-addressed by his official designation only and
without the addition of his name. When such papers are, however, transmitted

by hand, single covers may be used.

Confidential papers sent by post should not be registered except in accordance
with special or general orders passed by the head of the office.

51. When letters are received in an office they arc usually opened by some trusted
official whom the head of the office appoints to that duty. When he, on opening a
cover, finds inside another envelope marked "Confidential" and addressed by

name to the head of the office, he should be careful not to open it, even if the
head of the office is away on tour. The addressee should invariably open the

inner cover himself and allow no subordinate to open it.

52. Confidential papers should not pass through the office in the usual course.

Only the head of the office and one or two trustworthy clerks (whose names are
to be noted) should deal' with them. They should pass from hand to hand and
should either be delivered personally or be sent in sealed covers.

53. Confidential papers should be classified as follows:—
(a) 'Papers (mostly printed) which are confidential in a minor or more or less

formal sense, such as weekly reports on Native papers, confidential circulars

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