Departmental proceedings have been initiated at Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) after a vigilance investigation uncovered alleged irregularities in the company's biometric attendance system.
An agent and a clerk have been issued charge sheets and show-cause notices following findings that point to alleged manipulation of biometric attendance records, manual attendance entries and administrative lapses in maintaining employee attendance.
Complaints by Workers Led to Vigilance Inquiry
The matter surfaced after 64 workers lodged complaints in December 2025, questioning the authenticity of biometric attendance records.
According to the vigilance inquiry, while most attendance records were found to be genuine, investigators confirmed irregularities in seven cases, prompting departmental proceedings against the employees allegedly involved.
Injured Employee's Attendance Raises Serious Questions
One of the most significant findings relates to an injured worker.
According to investigators, instead of being granted injury leave as required under company rules, the employee's attendance was allegedly marked as regular.
Officials believe this may have affected the employee's statutory benefits and entitlements and have treated the matter as a serious administrative lapse.
Manual Attendance Entries Under Scanner
The inquiry also examined the biometric attendance system at the Basantimata-Dahibari Colliery.
Investigators reportedly found that several employees were repeatedly marked under the category "Face Not Recognised," after which attendance was manually entered.
One employee allegedly received manual attendance entries for 138 consecutive days.
The report further noted that all such manual entries were made using a single SAP ID, raising questions about internal controls, transparency and possible misuse of system access.
Departmental Action Underway
Following the vigilance findings, the concerned agent and clerk have been served with formal charge sheets and show-cause notices.
Employees have also sought a wider inquiry into the role of attendance supervisors and officials responsible for monitoring the biometric attendance process.
Meanwhile, two clerks from the stores department were transferred on administrative grounds during the same period. While BCCL management described the transfers as routine, the timing has attracted attention amid the ongoing inquiry.
Digital Forensics May Be Key
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said investigations involving biometric attendance systems should go beyond manual records.
He stated that investigators should examine:
- Server logs
- Digital audit trails
- User access records
- SAP login activity
- Biometric authentication logs
- Access control records
- System event logs
- Identity verification data
Such forensic analysis, he noted, can help determine whether there was unauthorized access, identity misuse or technical manipulation of attendance records.
Inquiry Continues
BCCL management has stated that the departmental inquiry remains ongoing and that further action will be taken based on evidence collected during the investigation.
Authorities are continuing to review biometric records, digital logs, attendance databases and the roles of officials connected with the attendance system to determine whether the alleged irregularities point to a broader pattern of organised manipulation.
Shunyatax Global Insight
As organizations increasingly rely on biometric attendance systems, maintaining the integrity of digital records has become essential. Regular forensic audits, strict access controls, comprehensive audit trails and timely oversight are critical to preventing attendance manipulation and protecting employee rights.
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