Punjab Government Cracks Down on Employees Who Participated in Strike

CHANDIGARH: With less than six months to go for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, a major confrontation appears to be brewing between the state government and nearly four lakh government employees, after the Aam Aadmi Party-led government took a strict view of the employees’ August 27 strike — one of the biggest protests by state government employees in recent years. The government on Friday directed all administrative secretaries and heads of departments to issue show-cause notices to employees who remained absent from duty without authorisation during the strike. The move comes at a time when employee unions are preparing to decide their next course of action at a meeting on Sunday. According to the government’s directions, employees found to have been “unauthorisedly absent” from duty during the strike will be issued show-cause notices and asked to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them for proceeding on “unauthorised leave”. The concerned departments have been directed to initiate action against employees who remained absent without prior permission or approval. Further action will be taken based on their responses to the show-cause notices.