CM crackdown on absenteeism at GST office
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday ordered strict action against absentee officials after a surprise inspection at the State GST office in ITO revealed several officers, including senior officials, missing from duty during working hours.
Taking a serious view, the Chief Minister directed the immediate issuance of show-cause notices to all absent officials and made it clear that negligence will not be tolerated at any level. “Discipline applies to everyone, from staff to commissioners. No one will be exempt from rules,” she said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the inspection was aimed at enforcing accountability within the administrative system. She expressed concern that even senior officers were not present at their desks, calling it unacceptable in a public service setup. She directed departments to ensure strict compliance with biometric attendance, which she said is mandatory for all officials. Authorities have been asked to submit biometric attendance records for the past month to fix responsibility and identify habitual defaulters.
During the visit, the Chief Minister interacted with taxpayers and members of the public present at the office. Several complaints were raised regarding delays in services and the unavailability of officials. Responding firmly, the Chief Minister warned that officers would be held directly responsible for any delay in delivering public services.
Officials were instructed to ensure that citizens do not face inconvenience due to administrative lapses. The Chief Minister said public service delivery must remain efficient and timely. She also reviewed the condition of the office premises and flagged shortcomings in infrastructure and maintenance. She directed the immediate removal of unused materials and scrap to improve the working environment.
Raising concerns over safety, she ordered regular fire safety audits and mandated timely maintenance reports to ensure preparedness. She said basic safety standards cannot be ignored in government offices.
On grievance redressal, the Chief Minister made it clear that official meetings cannot be used as a reason for delays in handling public complaints. She directed that all pending cases be reviewed on a weekly basis and that the complaint resolution system be simplified to ensure faster outcomes. She stressed the need to fix clear accountability in cases where services are delayed. Officials were told to adopt a more responsive approach towards citizens.
Reiterating her government’s position, the Chief Minister said Delhi is following a zero-tolerance policy towards negligence, irregularities, and corruption. She warned that strict action will be taken against officials who fail to perform their duties responsibly.
The Chief Minister also indicated that such surprise inspections will continue across departments. She said regular monitoring is necessary to ensure discipline and maintain public trust in government institutions.
