Rule 3 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, states: “The direction of the official superior shall ordinarily be in writing. Oral direction to subordinates shall be avoided, as far as possible. Where the issue of oral direction becomes unavoidable, the official superior shall confirm it in writing immediately thereafter.”
The next clause adds that a government servant who has received an oral direction “shall seek confirmation of the same in writing as early as possible.”