The Punjab government has directed administrative secretaries, heads of departments and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to prepare lists of government employees who remained absent from duty on October 21, 2026, without prior approval of leave.
The General Administration Department’s Establishment-5 Branch has issued an official communication asking officials to identify employees in their respective departments and jurisdictions who were absent without obtaining permission from the competent authority.
According to the communication, several employees across Punjab government offices remained absent from duty on October 21 without prior approval. The department has asked the concerned authorities to compile records of such employees.
The directive comes amid a two-day strike by government employees and pensioners across Punjab on October 21 and 22. The strike has affected government offices and services in several areas, with employees participating in protests and taking mass leave.
The latest order makes it clear that the government wants departments to document the absence of employees who did not have sanctioned leave for October 21.
The responsibility for preparing the lists has been assigned to administrative secretaries, heads of departments and Deputy Commissioners, covering the offices and areas under their respective jurisdictions.
The move comes as the employees’ strike enters its second day on Thursday, October 22 and the preparation of these lists could help the government establish which employees were absent without official permission during the first day of the protest.