Empty tables and piled-up pending files greeted Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan as he raided the office of Director,Public Instructions (Schools),without notice on Monday. As many as 32 officials,including two assistant directors and a superintendent,were found absent without a sanctioned leave. The minister paid the surprise visit after getting numerous complaints of absenteeism,pending work and other irregularities in the functioning of the office. On his way back to Chandigarh from his constituency,Kahnuwan,Sekhwan drove straight to the DPI office in Sector 17 here. The minister visited each branch of the office and enquired about the absent employees,besides the pending files. As the news of the raid reached them,hordes of employees started trooping into the office,which further enraged the minister. Taking the DPI to task,Sekhwan took exception for not maintaining movement register in each branch.
