In a bold move to enforce discipline, Kanpur's top administrative officer launched a surprise check on a government office, uncovering significant absenteeism among staff. The action has sent a strong message about accountability in public service.
Surprise Inspection Uncovers Absenteeism
District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh made an unannounced visit to the Tubewell Section-1 office located in Govind Nagar, Kanpur, on Thursday. The inspection aimed to assess the ground reality of office operations and staff presence. To his dismay, seven employees were found absent from their duties during working hours.
The officials who were not present at their posts were identified as Bhuvanendra Kumar, Mohd Moin, Sunita Shukla, Priyanka Devi, Yogendra Kumar, Resham Devi, and Vikas Sahu. The remaining staff present at the office informed the DM that one of the absentees, Bhuvanendra Kumar, was supposedly on duty as a Booth Level Officer (BLO).
Immediate Verification and Further Lapses
Not taking the explanation at face value, District Magistrate Singh immediately contacted Bhuvanendra Kumar by phone to verify his claim. The phone call revealed that Kumar was at his home until 1:30 PM and had not performed any of the tasks assigned to BLOs, contradicting the information provided by his colleagues.
Further probing into office discipline revealed more systemic issues. The DM asked to see the official movement register, a crucial record meant to track the comings and goings of employees during office hours. The staff failed to produce the register on the spot, indicating poor record-keeping and a lack of procedural adherence.
Strict Disciplinary Action Ordered
Expressing his strong displeasure at the lapses, DM Jitendra Pratap Singh took decisive action. He ordered a one-day salary deduction for all seven absent employees and directed them to submit written explanations for their unauthorized absence.
To prevent such incidents in the future, he issued strict instructions that no employee is to leave the office premises without making a proper entry in the movement register. Holding senior officials accountable for the disorder, the District Magistrate also sought a formal explanation from the Executive Engineer of Tubewell Section-1, demanding to know how such a situation was allowed to occur under his watch.
This surprise inspection is part of a broader effort by the district administration to improve governance and ensure that public servants are diligent and present at their workplaces to serve the citizens effectively.
