Ranchi, July 23: Most government-run high schools in the district are yet to install biometric machines, prompting the authorities to warn their teachers and principals that their salaries for the month of July will be deducted if they do not register their attendance on the device.

District education officer (DEO) Ratan Kumar Mahawar, said only 40 out of 90 schools had installed biometric devices so far.

"Today, principals of 40 government schools submitted reports at my office, stating that they have installed the biometric devices," said Mahawar.

Former DEO Raj Kumar Singh had asked all high schools to install biometric devices, each costing Rs 10,500, by July 15. But, most schools failed to adhere to the directive within the deadline. The deadline has now been extended by the present DEO till July 31 during a meeting at his office in Kutchery yesterday.

"I have told the school principals, who attended the meeting, that they will be paid this month's salary according to their biometric attendance," said Mahawar.

Some of the erring schools said they would install the device within the deadline.

"We have purchased the device and are in the process of installing it. We are planning to install the device at my chamber," said Divya Singh, principal of Balkrishna High School at Shaheed Chowk.

Satyavrat Sharma, principal of government high school at Bajra, said they did not have the funds in Vikas Kosh to purchase the device. "But, we will now spend from our own pockets to install the device," he said.