Thiruvananthapuram :  To raise efficiency in government offices, the Kerala government has asked all its employees to restrict the use of mobile telephones during work hours.

The government order, based on the recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Committee, first came out in February. Since it does not appear to have had the desired effect, it has now been sent out to all department heads again.

The latest circular says that there have been numerous complaints from the public that many government officials engage in private calls on their mobile phones while at work.

"The government views this seriously and instructs all government employees to restrict private calls on mobile phones during office hours, except in unavoidable circumstances," reads the order.