Food Ministry withdraws controversial order threatening to sack staff 'unwilling' to join office amid lockdown

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution had issued a memorandum warning officials it identified as "unwilling" to join work in office, said an NDTV report.

The memorandum accessed by NDTV asked the officers and staff to inform if they wanted to continue their service with the Department of Consumer Affairs by April 20 so that they can be "relieved".

However, Ram Vilas Paswan, the minister in charge, said he was unaware of such a notice issued by his department.

"This matter has just come to my knowledge. It is not correct to relieve people of duty. This is not correct. I have told the Secretary in the ministry to withdraw this order. Everyone has to follow the same guidelines as issued by the central government. We cannot have our own order on employees," Paswan was quoted as saying by NDTV.

According to an official, the staff were informed about the closure of the government offices through a written notice on March 24, but the reopening of the offices was intimated over a phone call, reported NDTV, adding there was nothing in writing.

The failure to respond by some staff was seen as a refusal to obey orders of the ministry, said the report.

After Prime Minister's meeting with Chief Ministers on Saturday via video link, the government had asked the ministers to resume work from office but ensuring protection like mask, sanitizers and social distancing. This was seen by many as an indication by the government to gradually resume work in its offices to bring the economy on track, the report added.