Deputy Municipal Commissioner (general administration) S B Patil informed that the staff would be liable for dismissal or even outright sacking if they fail to report for duty immediately. As of now, the punishment for proceeding on leave without permission is a warning and non-payment of salary for the days the employee has been absent. ``But this has not proved effective,'' admitted Patil. When asked if there was a provision in the BMC Act to dismiss the staff, Patil informed that ``The staff could be dismissed for not reporting for duty without sufficient reason as this amounted to misconduct.'' However, civic officials said they could hardly such an extreme step being taken.

While it is difficult to pinpoint any one particular department to which these employees belong, thehighest number of absentees are from the lower grade staff from the conservancy department and the staff working in hospitals, civic sources told Express Newsline. However, a comprehensive list of the staff is yet to be prepared.

Already, the head of one employee is on the chopping block, with the municipal chief auditor's department moving for termination of the services of a peon, Rizwan M H Shaikh, for remaining absent for long periods on numerous ocassions for the last three years. In 1997 alone, Shaikh reportedly stayed away from work on five ocassions without prior intimation.

Shaikh remained absent from May 1998 to September 1998. After attending office for about a fortnight, he went on leave again from October 5. A full-fledged enquiry was instituted against him last November and a charge-sheet filed in December.

But even after receiving a memo and promising the officers holding the enquiry that he would produce evidence to support his abrupt absence, Shaikh proceeded on leave again fromOctober. Civic officers warned him that they would complete the enquiry in his absence if he failed to attend the enquiry, but this seems to have had no impact on Shaikh, and the enquiry was conducted ex-parte.

According to a report prepared for sanction from the standing committee, Rizwan had stated that he did not report to work as he had to care for his chronically ill mother. But when he was present on May 27, 1999, one of the many hearings conducted by the enquiry officials, he failed to give sufficient evidence to support his absence.

After considering the reply given to the show-cause notice by Shaikh and the evidence provided, the administration has decided to terminate his service. Also, he will not be paid for the days he remained absent without permission.