The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, a central government organisation, has said women employees as well as female post-doctoral, senior and junior research fellows cannot stay in the office after 6.15pm.

And if the women need to be in the office after that, they have to “obtain prior permission” from the administration, said a circular issued by the ZSI, which functions under the ministry of environment, forest and climate change.

The circular, issued on August 13, four days after the rape and murder at RG Kar hospital, has triggered allegations of gender bias as the restriction only applies to women.

“As part of preventive measures under Rule3-C of the Central Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, all women working as Government Servants, Post-Doctoral Fellows, Sr/Jr. Research Fellow, Research Associates, Contractual Staffs, etc on the Hqrs’ (Headquarters) office, ZSI, Kolkata, are hereby directed to maintain proper office hours i.e. 09.45am to 06.15pm,” the circular said.

“In no case staying in the office after 06.15pm is allowed. In case it is felt necessary to work beyond normal office hours, they are hereby directed to obtain prior permission from the head of the office, ZSI, Kolkata, failing which the officer under whom she is working shall be held accountable.”

The circular also said “permission to work beyond normal office hours” will be granted to those “who want to work in groups of at least two women. Further permission shall not be granted to them on Saturday, Sunday and national holidays unless justification to work on the said days is established”.

A research scholar said they are often required to work beyond office hours. “The circular is discriminatory as there is no such prohibitory order for men,” the scholar said.

“This circular is as good as the recent one issued by the Bengal government,” the scholar said.

The state government had on August 17 announced a programme called Rattirer Shaathi (Helpers of the Night) for the safety of women and said women should not be assigned night duty “to the extent possible”.

Many women’s organisations protested the government’s advisory on the ground that it discriminates against women.

When contacted by this newspaper, ZSI director Dhriti Banerjee declined to comment. Another ZSI official said the circular was not triggered by the RG Kar rape and murder.

“Although the staff were to come by 9.45am, many women employees came late. They said they had to look after the kids. Since they came late, they left the office late. But the ministry is not allowing this anymore,” a ZSI official said.

Sources in the ZSI said senior scientists tried to take up the issue with the administration because of the gender bias in the circular. “But the circular has not been withdrawn,” a source said.