New Delhi: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar pulled a surprise check at the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and was not pleased with what he discovered.
At 9.15 am, a walk-through revealed a penurious attendance. Javadekar had the empty cubicles and seats photographed and tersely asked for the absentees to be informed that the minister had asked to meet them.
The late-comers lined up outside his office and were asked to apply for a day's leave by the minister.
Around 40 people fell into this slackers category.
Sources said the minister asked the "missing employees'' to meet him.
"He met almost 200 people in batches of 25-30 and let them off with a warning that they should be more punctual. He then asked them to take a day's casual leave," the source said.
After the minister's inspection, I&B secretary Bimal Julka also spoke to senior officials to emphasize on the need for punctuality among the staff.
A circular was also issued to officials warning them that they would be liable for disciplinary action if found to be late again, the sources said.
The Narendra Modi government has been laying emphasis on punctuality so as to serve the people better.
Earlier urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu too had conducted a surprise visit on June 13 to find many senior officials missing from their seats.
