56 staff found absent during inspection at HSVP office in Hisar

Hisar, January 21

The Urban Local Bodies Minister (ULB), Dr Kamal Gupta, conducted a surprise inspection at the Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) office here today and found 56 employees absent from their duties.

The ULB minister, who is a BJP MLA from Hisar, reached the HSVP office at 9.10 am. An official accompanying him said when the minister reached the HSVP office, only Sub-Divisional Engineer (SDE), Electrical, was on duty.

Nearly 80 per cent of the clerical staff was found missing from their duty. Those present in the office tried to give excuses to the minister about the absence of fellow staff members, but they were rebuked by him. The minister marked absence of the missing staff personnel in attendance registers.

The minister informed that surprise inspections were being conducted in all departments, boards and corporation offices of the state government to ensure accountability of officers and employees to the public.

Dr Gupta, who had been keeping low profile as an MLA, made his intentions clear to tighten the grip on the administration after he was inducted into the Cabinet by CM Manohar Lal Khattar on December 28.

Sources said personnel of government departments and the Municipal Corporation office in Hisar were on alert as the minister’s surprise raid was expected anytime at the Mini Secretariat. Officials reached their respective offices at the Mini Secretariat on time today morning.

However, Dr Gupta visited the HSVP office, where staff members were taken off guard, as they had not expected minister’s raid, an HSVP official said.

The minister on reaching the HSVP office closed the main gate to restrict the entry of personnel, who reported late for duty.

Dr Gupta said, “I have been getting complaints about absence of employees and officials at the HSVP office. Action will be taken against those found absent from duty.” During inspection, Dr Gupta visited the Administration Office, Estate Office and other offices on the HSVP campus.

The minister got upset when he found that the Executive Officer (EO) was not present in his office. As the EO staff explained that he was on official tour to Bhiwani, the minister requisitioned movement register. But the staff failed to provide movement register for the EO. The minister said those found absent from duty would be served show-cause notices.