Punjab government moves to act against employees absent during Maha Hartal

1:24 AM ETDeveloping

Health Desk

The Punjab government has initiated disciplinary action against employees who remained absent from duty on August 27 as part of the statewide ‘Maha Hartal’, directing administrative secretaries and heads of departments to issue show-cause notices to those found to have been absent without authorisation.

A Personnel Department letter issued on August 27, titled “Action regarding unauthorised absence of employees on duty”, directed administrative secretaries, divisional commissioners, principal secretaries and deputy commissioners to obtain details of employees absent that day.

Union leaders have questioned the characterisation of the mass leave as “unauthorised”, pointing out that the protest had been announced well in advance and the government was aware that employees from various departments, boards and corporations would participate.

The employees had announced the mass casual leave under the banner of the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch as part of their agitation for release of 18 per cent pending DA, restoration of the OPS and regularisation of contractual employees, among other demands.

The Manch argued that if service rules governing unauthorised absence were being invoked against ordinary employees, the same principle should apply to those responsible for cancelling the meeting after arrangements had been made.

Disciplinary authorities were asked to issue show-cause notices to those found to have been “unauthorisedly absent” and take action under the applicable service rules.

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The Punjab government has initiated disciplinary action against employees who remained absent from duty on August 27 as part of the statewide ‘Maha Hartal’, directing administrative secretaries and heads of…
A Personnel Department letter issued on August 27, titled “Action regarding unauthorised absence of employees on duty”, directed administrative secretaries, divisional commissioners, principal secretaries and deputy…
Disciplinary authorities were asked to issue show-cause notices to those found to have been “unauthorisedly absent” and take action under the applicable service rules.
Union leaders have questioned the characterisation of the mass leave as “unauthorised”, pointing out that the protest had been announced well in advance and the government was aware that employees from various…
The employees had announced the mass casual leave under the banner of the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch as part of their agitation for release of 18 per cent pending DA, restoration of the OPS and regularisation of…
The Manch argued that if service rules governing unauthorised absence were being invoked against ordinary employees, the same principle should apply to those responsible for cancelling the meeting after arrangements…

Sources

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