Nod a must before leaving Gurgaon: MCG tightens attendance rules

Gurgaon: MCG has asked all officials to obtain prior permission before leaving the city. Absence without approval will be treated as misconduct and could lead to disciplinary action under service rules, the officials have been told.
The directive was issued by commissioner Pradeep Dahiya on Monday, after the civic body recorded instances of officials leaving without informing senior authorities.Dahiya said, "The directive is aimed at tightening administrative oversight and ensuring that essential services remain unaffected. Civic functions often require timely file processing, field inspections and coordination between departments and unreported absences can delay decision-making and service delivery." Department heads and senior officers were directed to circulate the order among their staff and ensure strict compliance. They were also asked to monitor attendance and movements of employees under their supervision so that routine civic work is not disrupted, an official said.According to the corporation, unauthorised absences affected administrative functioning and contributed to complaints from residents about delays in public services.Under the new instructions, officials must seek approval from the competent authority before leaving station limits. The order specifies that being absent without permission will be considered a serious lapse and action may be initiated against the concerned employee in accordance with applicable conduct rules.The move comes as the corporation seeks to streamline internal systems and address public grievances related to delays in civic work. Authorities said enforcing stricter attendance and movement protocols is expected to improve accountability and maintain continuity in municipal operations.However, this was not the first time: such orders were issued earlier in previous years during monsoons, when the city gets flooded.