English
English
English
Karnataka links government staff attendance to location-based app (Img: X)
Bengaluru: In a move to strengthen accountability and improve public service delivery, the Karnataka government has made it mandatory for officials and employees to stay at their designated headquarters. It has also introduced a location-based attendance system through Kartavya mobile application to track whether officials remain within their assigned areas.
Authorities initially plan to introduce it on a pilot basis for doctors working at taluk hospitals and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under the Health and Family Welfare Department from November 1. Doctors will be required to record their attendance through the app after 9 pm each day while remaining within the geographical limits of their designated headquarters.
Under the new system, doctors will have to confirm their presence through the Kartavya app at night. The requirement is intended to ensure that medical officers stay within their assigned location, cities or villages instead of residing elsewhere without permission.
Officials and employees on sanctioned leave will be exempt from the requirement. The exemption will also apply to those carrying out official duties outside their headquarters with prior approval from the competent authority. Employees who have obtained prior permission to leave their assigned locations will also be exempted. In such cases, the reasons for the leave or permission must be recorded in the app.
Commissioners and District Health Officers will review the night attendance reports every month, according to the government order dated October 17, as per reports.
Disciplinary action will be taken against those employees found living away from their designated headquarters without authorisation.
The decision follows proceedings by the Upa Lokayukta, which found that several government employees were not residing at their designated headquarters and were instead managing administrative work from distant locations.
This arrangement had reportedly delayed official work and caused considerable inconvenience to members of the public seeking government services.
The Department of Praja Seva introduced the system with the approval of the Chief Minister, aiming to protect public interest and ensure that employees comply with service rules.
Praja Seva Department Principal Secretary Harsh Gupta said in the order that the government intended to extend the Kartavya attendance system to employees in other departments and cadres. But this would depend on the outcome of the pilot project.
In a separate circular, the Karnataka government made it compulsory for contractual and outsourced employees working in various departments, offices, boards, corporations, authorities and government-aided institutions to register their attendance through the app.
According to the government circular, Chief Minister had approved extending the application, previously restricted to permanent government employees, to contractual and outsourced staff as well.
Heads of departments and offices have been directed to ensure that all contractual and outsourced employees under their jurisdiction register on the app by November 25. From December 1, attendance for these employees must be recorded exclusively through the application.
The government has also linked salary payments for contractual employees and payments to outsourcing agencies to attendance records generated through the app.
From January 1, 2027, salaries of contractual employees and bills submitted by outsourcing agencies will be cleared only on the basis of attendance reports generated through the Kartavya application.
Drawing and Disbursing Officers have been instructed not to release payments if attendance has not been recorded through the app.
At present, attendance for contractual and outsourced employees is maintained through handwritten registers or other separate systems. Since their salaries are paid from government funds, the government intends to introduce a uniform process that makes attendance records more transparent, consistent and reliable.
