Bandh absence to be treated as CL for govt staff

BANGALORE: The Karnataka government employees absent on both ``bandh days'''' (September 12 and on Thursday) must apply for casual leave. If they have exhausted it, they stand to lose a day''s salary.
Official sources told The Times of India here on Thursday that the employees were required to reach the office ``on their own'''' as no assurance was given to them at the time of recruitment about providing transport facility.
``It is the primary responsibility of employees to come to office whatever be the situation,'''' they added.
However, the Karnataka State Government Employees Association (KSGEA) is planning to request the government to consider the mass absenteeism of employees as ``special casual leave'''' although there is no provision.
KSGEA president Sippe Gowda said till now, there is no word either from the chief secretary''s office or from DPAR. ``We will approach on our own to discuss the issue after the association takes a decision,'''' he added.
About 10-15 per cent of employees reached their work place as buses were cancelled on September 12 due to the Bangalore bandh.
According to sources, the provision of ``special casual leave'''' is applicable only if employees go on strike en masse and if it is justified. ``Treating mass absenteeism as special casual leave would tantamount to extending tacit support to the bandh. No government ever supports any bandh, even if it is called by the party ruling the state,'''' they maintained.