Physical meetings only if related to Covid or court: Delhi govt to staff

Public dealings in the offices of the district magistrates have been exempted from the restrictions.

Days after asking nearly 50% of its staff to work from home, the Delhi government has asked all its departments, agencies and state-run companies to strictly prohibit physical meetings -- unless they are related to Covid-19 management, court matters, or some urgent business. The three municipal corporations of Delhi have also issued similar orders to their staff.

More than 23 revenue services categorised as “non-essential” were shut in Delhi since March 20 last year due to the pandemic and the nationwide lockdown.. (Rahul Singh / ANI)

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in an order issued on April 12, said that “besides the reduction in attendance in the offices of Delhi government, unnecessary interactions amongst officers/officials are restricted. Therefore, the competent authority has directed that no meetings in person shall take place except meetings related to Covid-19 management, court matters, and matters of urgent nature.”

Public dealings in the offices of the district magistrates have been exempted from the restrictions.

More than 23 revenue services categorised as “non-essential” were shut in Delhi since March 20 last year due to the pandemic and the nationwide lockdown. From June 8 last year, when the first unlocking guidelines were issued, Delhi government’s revenue department also gradually opened up its public services, including issuing income, domicile, marriage, caste and solvency certificates, mutation of properties, enrolment of Aadhaar, recruitment of civil defence volunteers, and registration of documents in sub-registrar offices.

The three municipalities have also started following the DDMA directives.

North Delhi Municipal Corporation mayor Jai Prakash said that orders were issued to ensure that only 50% staff attends office at a time, and officials have been directed to make rosters to implement the order. “This work from home order will be implemented in every department except for public health and sanitation departments. Rosters are being made to call employees alternatively to offices. We have also suspended all physical meetings,” said Prakash.

The east and south corporations are also following the same protocols.

An East MCD spokesperson said that, by April 12, rosters were made to follow the 50% staff strength rule. “Only A grade officers, such as commissioner, additional commissioner and other senior officials, are asked to come to office every day.”

An SDMC officer said, “We will soon make a roster which will ensure only 50% staff is present in offices at a time and rest work from home.”