Wordy penalty for errant officials

SHILLONG, April 20: Government officials in Meghalaya, who played truant and didn't attend office on April 14, the birth anniversary of B R ...

SHILLONG, April 20: Government officials in Meghalaya, who played truant and didn’t attend office on April 14, the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, one of the framers of the Indian Constitution, will have to write a 2,000-word essay on his life and teaching, if their explanations justifying their absence on the day are not convincing.

According to a circular issued by Meghalaya Chief Secretary D K Gangopadhyay, all Government officials, who absented themselves on April 14 would be required to submit a written explanation. If their explanation is found to be unsatisfactory or they fail to submit it by Tuesday, they will have to write an essay in not less than 2000 words on the life and teachings of B R Ambedkar.

Although the Central government declared April 14 as a national holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, Meghalaya Chief Secretary Gangopadhyay refused to declare it as a holiday for the State Government employees.

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Justifying his decision, he told The Indian Express that State Governmentofficials have had too many holidays in the first two weeks of April and it had affected work in Government offices. So he decided that April 14 should be a working day as it would actually be a tribute to Ambedkar on his birth anniversary.

Irrespective of the positions they hold in Government departments, all Government employees who preferred to stay at home on April 14 will have to undergo the penalty of writing the essay. From Grade-IV employees to top officers of different departments, all will be required to submit to the Chief Secretary their essay in English or their mother tongue.