UP CM Yogi Adityanath Bans Mobile Phones At Cabinet Meetings

Concerns of hacking and electronic espionage influenced the decision.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. 

(File Photo: IANS)

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has banned ministers from carrying their cellphone to cabinet meetings.

All minister will now have to leave their phones outside while a cabinet meeting is on with the Chief Minister, reported news agency ANI.

"The chief minister wants all ministers should focus on issues that are discussed in the cabinet meetings. They should not get distracted by their mobile phones. Some ministers have been busy reading messages on WhatsApp during the meeting”, said a senior official in the chief minister's secretariat to IANS.

Hacking and electronic espionage were other concerns that influenced the decision.

Ministers will now have to deposit their phones at a counter outside the meeting room against which they will be given a token. The token will then have to be returned to get back the phone.

Earlier ministers were allowed to carry their cellphones to meetings but had to keep it on silent mode.

(With inputs from ANI and IANS)