The Punjab government has initiated disciplinary action against employees who remained absent from duty during the statewide Maha Hartal held on August 27, escalating the ongoing confrontation between the state administration and government employee organisations.

The Personnel Department has directed administrative secretaries and heads of departments to identify employees who were absent without prior authorisation and issue them show-cause notices. Employees will be required to explain why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against them for allegedly remaining away from duty without permission.

The government’s move comes after a large-scale protest by government employees and pensioners across Punjab. The agitation was organised over several long-pending demands, including the release of outstanding Dearness Allowance (DA), restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual employees.

Government Seeks Details of Employees Absent From Duty

The state administration had earlier instructed departments to prepare lists of employees who did not report for work on August 27. The latest directive indicates that the government has now moved from collecting attendance information to taking formal administrative action.

Employees identified as having remained absent without approval are expected to receive show-cause notices. Their responses will determine whether further disciplinary proceedings are initiated under the applicable service rules.

The government has maintained that employees cannot treat participation in a strike or mass leave programme as automatically authorised absence. Officials have therefore been instructed to distinguish between employees who had approved leave and those who were absent without the required permission.

The action has created additional tension between the administration and employee unions, which have defended the mass absence as part of a collective protest over unresolved service-related issues.

Thousands of Employees Participated in Maha Hartal

The August 27 Maha Hartal witnessed participation from more than three lakh Punjab government employees, while several lakh pensioners also extended their support to the agitation.

More than 150 employee organisations were involved in the protest. Government offices in several parts of the state reported reduced attendance, while employees organised demonstrations and raised slogans against the state government.

The protest affected several departments, including education, health, irrigation, public works, agriculture, excise, treasury and water supply.

The scale of the agitation resulted in disruptions to government functioning and public services. In the healthcare sector, outpatient services at several government hospitals were affected, although emergency and other essential medical services continued in many facilities.

Government schools and other public institutions in some areas also experienced disruptions because of the absence of teaching, clerical and administrative staff.

Employees Press for Long-Pending Demands

The employee organisations have been demanding the release of pending DA dues, implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual workers.

Another major demand concerns the resolution of various pay and service-related issues affecting government employees and pensioners.

Employee representatives have argued that several of these matters have remained unresolved despite repeated discussions and representations to the government. They say the mass protest was organised to put pressure on the administration to address the concerns of employees and pensioners.

The unions have also raised demands concerning minimum wages for certain categories of workers, restoration of career progression benefits and implementation of applicable Punjab pay scales for employees recruited after specified dates.

Dispute Intensifies After Meeting With Chief Minister Is Cancelled

The confrontation intensified after a scheduled meeting between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and representatives of employee organisations in Jalandhar was cancelled.

The government had indicated that negotiations could not take place while employees were continuing with the strike. The chief minister maintained that the government was willing to discuss legitimate concerns but that talks and a strike could not continue simultaneously.

Employee representatives, however, sought a meeting without first withdrawing their agitation. The disagreement eventually resulted in the cancellation of the scheduled talks.

The episode further damaged the prospects of an immediate settlement and became another point of contention between the two sides.

Employee Unions Oppose Disciplinary Action

Employee leaders have strongly objected to the government’s decision to initiate action against those who participated in the Maha Hartal.

The unions argue that the government is attempting to pressure employees rather than addressing the issues that led to the protest. They have questioned the decision to categorise the employees’ absence as unauthorised when the mass leave programme had been publicly announced in advance.

Union representatives have indicated that they are unlikely to accept disciplinary action without a response. They are also preparing to discuss their next course of action, including the possibility of intensifying the agitation if the government does not withdraw its directive.

The unions have maintained that the government should focus on resolving the underlying issues instead of taking punitive measures against employees.

Government Defends Need for Administrative Discipline

From the government’s perspective, employees are required to follow service rules and remain available for official duties unless they have obtained valid leave or permission.

The administration’s latest directive reflects its position that unauthorised absence cannot be overlooked, particularly when the absence affects the delivery of public services.

The government has therefore asked departments to examine attendance records and take action only against employees whose absence is established as unauthorised.

The process is expected to involve individual responses to show-cause notices before any further disciplinary measures are considered.

Political Dimension Adds to the Dispute

The employee-government confrontation has also acquired a political dimension as opposition parties have expressed support for the protesting employees and criticised the state administration over its handling of their demands.

The timing is particularly significant as Punjab approaches the 2027 Assembly elections. A prolonged dispute involving a large section of government employees and pensioners could create additional political pressure on the state government.

For the administration, maintaining government services while enforcing discipline among employees remains a key challenge. For employee organisations, the government’s disciplinary action has now become an additional issue alongside their demands concerning DA, pensions, pay structures and regularisation.

Unions to Decide Their Next Move

Employee organisations are expected to hold further discussions to determine their next course of action.

The immediate question is whether the government and employee representatives can return to negotiations or whether the latest disciplinary action will lead to another round of protests.

If the government proceeds with disciplinary proceedings against a large number of employees, the dispute could widen further. Conversely, withdrawal or relaxation of the action could create an opportunity for both sides to resume negotiations.

For now, the Punjab government has adopted a firm position on unauthorised absence, while employee unions have shown little indication of abandoning their demands.

The dispute therefore remains unresolved, with the government’s disciplinary action likely to play a significant role in determining the next phase of the confrontation.