Depts told to crack whip on absent staff

The Punjab government on Friday issued directions to all departments to initiate dismissal/removal proceedings without delay against employees absenting themselves from duty unauthorisedly.

The Punjab government on Friday issued directions to all departments to initiate dismissal/removal proceedings without delay against employees absenting themselves from duty unauthorisedly.

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A government spokesman said all government departments had been directed to give such officers/officials a three-day notice for rejoining duty; in case any officer or employee did not join duty in the stipulated time, then considering him as absent from duty, dismissal/removal proceedings against him should be initiated under the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970.

The spokesman said any such officer/official should not be allowed to rejoin without the pre-approval of competent authority and the administrative department concerned should discuss the issue with the finance department under the Punjab Civil Service Rules. Besides this, departmental action should also be taken against those officers/officials who during their study leave do business/work or get other financial benefits, considering it a violation of Rule 15 of the Government Employees' (Conduct), Rules, 1966.

The spokesman added that in case of non-compliance of these instructions, departmental proceedings should also be initiated against officers/officials concerned. He said two pro formas had been prepared, through which departmental heads would submit their reports regarding the dismissal/removal or demotion of such officers/officials to the administrative secretary of the department by the 30th of every month. After that, financial commissioners/administrative secretaries would send their compiled quarterly reports to the chief secretary, Punjab, he added.