Biometric Attendance in Government Offices Valid Even Without Employee Consultation: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court upheld the Centre’s decision to implement a Biometric Attendance System in the Office of the Principal Accountant General, Odisha, ruling that its introduction cannot be considered illegal merely because employees were not informed or consulted beforehand.

The Court noted that administrative reforms aimed at ensuring discipline and efficiency do not require prior consent from staff members.

The system had been challenged before the Central Administrative Tribunal on the grounds that it violated procedural norms set out in Swamy’s Complete Manual on Establishment and Administration for Central Government Offices.

[Union of India v Employees of Principal Accountant General Office, Odisha]