CM146;s order falls on deaf ears

Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Corporation Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh and Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon attended office.

The CM8217;s order on November 6 was communicated by way of a formal press statement. The idea behind the directive was the convenience of the people who reach the office of ministers from far-off places. The disregard for the directive comes at a time when the state government has stepped up efforts to rein in employees who are not only latecomers, but also missing from their seats.

The Indian Express contacted offices of all ministers in the Secretariat today. Majority of them were away to their constituencies and the staff expressed ignorant about mantriji8217;s whereabouts. The work was going on at slow pace as employees were already hoping for a half-day holiday ahead of Gurpurab on Thursday.

With majority of ministers missing and the half-day holiday wish coming true, many left much before lunch. Majority of the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries CPS and Parliamentary Secretaries too were nowhere to be seen.

A close confident of the CM said, 8220;The CM is aware that ministers have work elsewhere as well. It8217;s imperative that they spare time for this as well.8221;