Govt gets strict with staff absent from place of work

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 6

Taking serious view of the absence of government officials from their place of posting during leave or otherwise, the government today issued strict directives with certain riders, including withdrawal of allowances, to prevent such a practice.

The government issued a notification which stated that the entire time of a government employee is at the disposal of the government and as such he is required to seek permission before leaving his place of posting, whether on leave or otherwise. “It has come to the notice of the government that employees often leave the station/headquarter without seeking prior permission from the competent authority,” the office memorandum read.

A sizeable number of government employees, especially in places like Shimla, Solan and Dharamsala, leave for their home daily after work and at times they are not available after working hours.

The order says that though transportation facilities have improved it is mandatory to obtain station leave before leaving the place of posting. “We are aware that some employees are using their personal vehicle or pool vehicle to reach their place of posting but this does not imply that they can leave their place of posting without permission. This can attract disciplinary proceedings too,” the order read.

The order further says that those employees, who are not staying at their place of posting and taking certain allowances from the government, could be denied those allowances. The government has put certain riders for those who often leave their place of posting while on duty.

These riders include that a person will be entitled to leave the place of posting only if the to and fro journey time does not exceed two hours. He will also require to inform the competent authority and obtain general permission for to and fro travel and this permission can be withdrawn anytime, depending on the output and performance of the employee. However, employees who are connected with essential public services will not be given such permission of daily commuting to their place of posting.

Employees, who are granted permission to travel from other places to their place of posting, will be entitled to house rent allowance only at the minimum rate prescribed in other parts of the state. As far as compensatory allowance is concerned, they will draw it at the rate for the lowest group, that is Group VII.