Kathmandu, November 30

The National Vigilance Centre has directed government offices and municipalities concerned in Kathmandu to initiate disciplinary action against 258 employees for absenteeism and violation of dress code.

According to a press release issued by the NVC, government offices and local levels have been told to initiate action against unruly civil servants in accordance with the Civil Service Act-1993. Similarly, it requires them to book other staffers as per the act

or regulations related to employee management.

According to Section 55(A) of the act, if any civil servant is not punctual or becomes reckless, the supervisor concerned may give such an employee warning and maintain records regarding it in the sheet roll/personal details file of the employee concerned.

Several civil servants and other staffers were found absent during duty hours without leave and violating the dress code during surprise monitoring and inspection carried out by the NVC in various government offices and municipalities in Kathmandu from November 17 to 22.

As many as 150 employees were found absent from their respective offices, while 108 had not donned the prescribed uniform during office hours. The NVC will be carrying out regular follow up to check whether or not the offices take action against absent civil servants. The NVC had conducted monitoring and inspection of 49 public offices.

The NVC, which is under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, is mandated to establish good governance and control corruption. The government provides Rs 7,500 per annum to each civil servant as uniform allowance. The policy was introduced in 2012 to help service-seekers recognise them.

Male civil servants are required to wear daura suruwal, coat or dark blue suit with white shirt and tie, while female civil servants are required to wear shirt and pant or saree-blouse or kurta-salwar of dark blue colour.