New Delhi: In a bid to discipline the late-comers, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad today (Aug 10, 2004) carried out a surprise check at the Rail Bhawan in New Delhi and sent back home over 500 employees reporting late to the office.

"Soon after I came to Rail Bhawan at 9.30 hrs (IST), I ordered that all the gates of the Bhawan be closed. All those who came late were stopped at the gates. We found that 453 non-gazetted and 66-gazetted employees came late. They were sent back to their homes," Prasad told sources.

There are 1619 non-gazetted and 700-gazetted employees working at the Rail Bhawan and going by today's checklist at least 40 per cent of them were late to the office.

Asserting that "indiscipline" will not be tolerated, Prasad said strict action would be taken against those reporting late to the office in future.

"I will not tolerate this. They have been marked as absentee. Their one-day salary would be cut. I will conduct such checks in near future too and if they are found to be habitual late-comers, action would be initiated against them," he said.

Pointing out that the Central Government employees enjoyed better facilities as compared to others, Prasad said the 9 to 5.30 office-time schedule must be honoured.

As part of security measures in the sprawling Rail Bhawan complex, adjoining Parliament House, he said Director General of Railway Protection Force A K Suri has been asked to order checking of all vehicles entering the premises through metal detectors.