New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) The home ministry has allowed its employees flexible-hours of work, relaxing attendance norms but they have to put in 40 hours a week in any case, according to new rules.

The new order allows home ministry employees to come late by two hours maximum or leave two hours early. But they will have to make up for the lost time in any case in the same week.

'In exceptional cases like consultation with doctors, hospitals, attending social obligation, late arrival in the morning and early departure in afternoon up to two hours will be allowed subject to the condition that prior intimation or approval of the immediate supervising officer has been obtained,' said the order issued by Home Secretary G.K. Pillai.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram had installed biometric scanners in September last year, strictly asking employees to come at 9 a.m. and leave after 5.30 in the evening. This was done to ensure a culture of punctuality.

However, the relaxation comes after employees made two representations to Chidambaram.