Pondicherry CM runs surprise check at secretariat

Puducherry: The staff at the chief secretariat here were in for a surprise as Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy made an unannounced punctuality check and issued stern warning to latecomers.

Following continuous complaints on late coming of government employees to office, Chief Minister warned the late staff and asked the senior officials to ensure that staff reported for work on time.

The Chief Minister reached the chief secretariat building situated on the beach road around 9.30 am and found most of the employees were yet to turn up.

Shocked over the sight of so many empty chairs in the opening hour, the chief minister expressed his dissatisfaction and said that late arrival of staffs affects the working of offices and dislocates the routine disposal of the files.

“Seventy per cent of employees have not turned up for work until now in many of the departments.  In some departments the superintendents were also absent. I do not approve of this kind of attitude. The bio metric attendance system also not working so the employees think that they can come by the time they wish,” said the Chief Minister while talking to reporters later.

The government is spending too much money to ensure the welfare of the officials, including the implementation of Seventh Pay commission report, he said.

The CM reminded that it is the duty of the chief secretary, secretaries, deputy secretaries and joint secretaries to ensure that the employees report for duty in time and initiate action if they fail. He also warned stringent action against using official vehicles for personal use and said that a monitoring committee would be constituted on the issue and action will be initiated after getting its report.

Narayanasamy said that he will continue the surprise checks in future also along with his ministerial colleagues. Last year the Chief Minister made surprise visits to a few government-run institutions .