Over 50% staff in office? Gurgaon staff can call 112

Gurgaon residents can now report offices and companies that are violating the 50% work-from-home requirement by calling 112 or the district administration's control room at 928979048. The administration has said people can file complaints anonymously and their identities will remain confidential, with every complaint followed by an inspection of the premises.

The move comes after Gurgaon administration issued show-cause notices to two prominent law firms, Trilegal and JSA Advocates & Solicitors, after inspections found that more than 60% of their employees were present in their offices. Residents can also use the two helpline numbers to report the illegal sale of firecrackers.

The district administration has invited residents to report private offices and companies that are not following the prescribed physical attendance limit.

People can call either 112 or the district administration's control room at 928979048 to flag suspected violations. According to officials, callers do not have to disclose their identities, and the administration will keep complainants' details confidential.

The administration has also said that complaints will not simply be recorded. An inspection team will visit the premises to verify the allegations.

"If an establishment is found violating the 50% physical attendance limit, a show-cause notice will be issued," an official said.

This means companies found exceeding the permitted office attendance will be asked to explain their position. The administration has also made the same helplines available for complaints about illegal firecracker sales.

The helpline announcement follows action against two law firms operating in Sector 42, Gurgaon.

On Friday, the district administration issued show-cause notices to Trilegal and JSA Advocates & Solicitors after inspections found that more than 60% of their employees were present in their respective offices.

The firms were allegedly allowing a larger share of their workforce to work from office than the prescribed limit.

The notices stated that the alleged violations prima facie amounted to a breach of the deputy commissioner's November 3 order, which was issued in compliance with directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

Both firms were asked to explain their positions. The notices warned that proceedings could be initiated under Section 14 of the Commission for Air Quality Management Act, 2021, and other applicable laws if they failed to provide satisfactory explanations.

The show-cause notices are based on the administration's inspection findings. They do not, by themselves, establish that the firms have been found guilty of a violation after the notice process.

Under the deputy commissioner's order, private offices covered by the directions must restrict physical attendance to 50% of their workforce. The remaining employees are required to work from home.

The measure is in force from November 5 to November 20.

The district administration issued its order in compliance with directions from CAQM, which were subsequently followed by a local advisory.

Deputy commissioner Uttam Singh said the CAQM directions and the administration's advisory were binding on all establishments covered by the order.

The administration has been conducting inspections to check whether companies are following the attendance requirement.

"We are conducting inspections to ensure compliance and urge all organisations to follow the directions. Residents can also report violations," Singh said.

The administration's appeal to residents adds a public reporting mechanism to its enforcement efforts, allowing people to flag offices they suspect are exceeding the permitted physical attendance limit.