Bhubaneswar: Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari on Wednesday warned members of the Odisha Rajaswa Amala Sangha that the government is ready to ensure uninterrupted delivery of revenue services even without the participation of employees currently on mass leave.
He said any neglect of public duties would invite strict action, including salary stoppage under the “no work, no pay” rule.
Pujari urged the agitating employees to end their strike, stressing that disputes should be resolved through dialogue. He clarified that the cadre restructuring demand — a key issue behind the protest — does not fall under his department’s jurisdiction, though the proposal has already been sent to the concerned department. He said going on mass leave while the matter is under consideration is “unacceptable.”
The Odisha Rajaswa Amala Sangha’s strike, which began on August 11, has led to widespread disruption of essential public services at the district level.
In an urgent directive to all district collectors, Additional Chief Secretary Deoranajan Kumar Singh said the absence of field-level revenue staff was causing delays and hardship for citizens.
The government described the employees’ conduct as a violation of service rules and unbecoming of government servants. Collectors have been instructed to reject leave applications, ensure regular attendance, issue show-cause notices to absentees, and withhold their salaries for the strike period. The unauthorised leave will be treated as a break in service and recorded in employees’ service books.
Officials have also ordered the initiation of major disciplinary proceedings against those found guilty of deliberate and serious misconduct.
