Cuttack: In a tough action for unauthorised absence from duty, the July salaries of all employees of the Mahanga block in Odisha’s Cuttack have been withheld following an order issued by the district Collector.
Acting on the order, the District Development Officer (DDO) has issued instruction for stoppage of the salary due to employees’ absence during an emergency and non-compliance with biometric attendance protocols.
The district administration had declared an emergency on July 26 in view of a heavy rain forecast and directed all block-level staff to remain present at their offices though it was a fourth Saturday. However, it was found that most employees were absent from duty on that day. Despite the District Collector’s instruction, the employees failed to report for work.
This apart, despite instructions from the Collector during a public hearing to ensure biometric attendance systems were in place, the order was not complies with.
Taking a serious view of these violations, the authorities have withheld the employees’ salaries. The suspension will remain in effect until the employees submit satisfactory explanations for their absence and the failure to follow biometric attendance procedures.
If the employees provide a satisfactory response, their salaries will be released, said a senior official.
