Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 19 July 2024
The offices of Andaman and Nicobar Administration are officially required to end their lunch break at 1:30 PM on all working days. However, at the Assistant Commissioner’s Office in Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar, the absence of staff nearly one hour after the official end of the lunch break (2:29 PM) has become a glaring issue.
Habitual non-punctuality among the staff at this crucial administrative office is an open secret. Extending lunch breaks by one, two, or even three hours has become routine for many employees, causing significant inconvenience to the residents of Great Nicobar who rely on timely administrative services.
This persistent tardiness is exacerbated by a lack of administrative action. Despite numerous complaints from the public, little to no disciplinary measures have been taken against these government servants, perpetuating a cycle of negligence and unaccountability.
Nicobar Times previously highlighted this issue in a story published on 30 May 2024, which focused on staff absenteeism during early office hours at the Campbell Bay AC office. The administration has yet to communicate any follow-up actions to the media, raising concerns about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in these remote areas.
This issue is not isolated to Campbell Bay. Non-punctuality is reportedly common across many government offices in remote regions, particularly in the Nicobar District. Nicobar Times has called for stringent action against AC and staff at the Campbell Bay AC office and has emailed time-stamped photographs of the office’s empty premises to the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar District.
The residents of Great Nicobar continue to await a resolution, hoping for a commitment to punctuality and accountability from their public servants.