Cabinet Secretary warns officers against not attending I-Day event

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 8

The government today asked the officers, who have been invited for the Independence Day function at the Red Fort, to mandatorily attend and warned them that if they fail to do so a “serious view” would be taken.

In a communication to the secretaries of all Union Ministries and departments, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba said, “The Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony at the Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also address the nation, has its own significance and the officers invited for the function are expected to attend.”

“It has been observed that some of the invited officers fail to attend the ceremony. This is inappropriate considering that the occasion is of great national importance. There is clearly a need to remind the officers that it is their duty to attend the Independence Day ceremony,” a senior government functionary quoting the Cabinet Secretary’s letter said.

In his letter, Gauba added that in view of social distancing requirements due to the Covid-19 pandemic, officers of only joint-secretary level and above have been invited for the ceremony this year.