Home Ministry has allowed flexible duty hours for its employees. It has given maximum relaxation of two hours to them to attend social obligations or visit a doctor but have to ensure forty hour work schedule in the week. An order to this effect has been issued by the Home Secretary, Mr G. K. Pillai. It says in exceptional cases the consultation with doctors attending social obligation, late arrival in the morning, early departure in the afternoon upto two hours will be allowed, subject to prior intimation or approval of the immediate supervising officer. The arrangement has been made after ministry employees made representations to the Home Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram.