Karnataka mandates night-time app attendance for doctors at Taluk Hospitals, PHCs

Bengaluru: Doctors posted at taluk hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs) in Karnataka will have to log their attendance on a government app after 9 pm from November 1, under a state government order aimed at ensuring their presence at their designated place of posting.

The attendance will be recorded through the geo-fenced ‘Kartavya’ app, which records attendance within specified geographical limits. The government has also extended app-based attendance to contract and outsourced personnel working across government departments and institutions.

These employees must register on the application by November 25 and start marking their attendance exclusively through it from December 1. From January 1, 2027, their salaries and payments to outsourcing agencies will be linked to attendance reports generated by the app.

The Principal Secretary of the Praja Seva Department, with the Chief Minister's approval, issued the order. It seeks to improve accountability and ensure that public services are available without delays caused by employees remaining away from their designated headquarters.

Employees on sanctioned leave will be exempt from the attendance requirement. Exemptions will also cover personnel assigned official duties outside their headquarters with approval from the competent authority, as well as those granted prior permission to leave their place of posting. The reasons for such exemptions must be recorded in the application, The Hindu reported. 

Commissioners and district health officers will review night-time attendance reports every month. Employees found staying away from their designated headquarters without permission may face disciplinary action under the applicable service rules.

The directive follows observations made during an inquiry by the Upa Lokayukta, which reportedly found that several government employees were not residing at their assigned headquarters and were managing their duties from distant locations.

According to the order, this practice had contributed to delays in reporting for work and caused inconvenience to the public. The new system is intended to strengthen monitoring of attendance and improve the delivery of government services.