Baljit Singh Rana (60), a policeman for 40 years, has been at the office every single day in the past 14 years, records show. His family says Rana did not take leave even in recent years for the weddings of his three children.

But they say he is a caring father and a husband who has never ignored his family responsibilities. “He has never ignored our needs or any work at home, although initially it did upset us when he wouldn’t take any leave,” said Rana’s wife, Sushila.