Background:
As per various orders/instructions on coronavirus pandemic, employees below a certain level in MoCA and it's subordinate/attached offices/PSUs were allowed to attend office physically only on alternate days and work from home for the rest of the days in a week.
However, orders were silent with respect to employees residing in areas around 35-40 kms away from office and not able to attend office physically due to circumstances beyond their control or non availability of metro rail services etc.
Such employees were being compelled to apply for leave for the entire period and not alternate days when they were required to perform duty as per rosters drawn up.
Request for information under RTI Act, 2005:
1. Whether clarification has been issued by MoCA (after consultation with DoPT/DPE) to its attached offices/PSUs that employees who could not attend office physically due to circumstances beyond their control or non availability of metro rail services etc. are required to apply leave only for alternate days when they were required to attend office physically as per roster and not entire period.
2. If yes provide copy. If no intimate reasons.
3. Whether clarification has been issued by MoCA that employees who could not attend office physically since lifting of lockdown due to compelling circumstances (but continued to work from home in terms of National Directives for COVID-19 Management issued by MHA) would be treated as on duty.
4. If yes provide copy. If no intimate reasons.