Mr Yadav's policies have left many less than happy

India's Railway Minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav, gave them marching orders after carrying out a surprise check at the railway headquarters.

"Soon after I came to Rail Bhawan [rail headquarters] at 0930, I ordered that all the gates be closed.

I will not tolerate this Laloo Prasad Yadav Rail Minister

"All those who came late were stopped at the gates," the Press Trust of India quotes him as saying.

More than 20% of the 2,319 employees at the railway headquarters turned up late, incurring Mr Yadav's wrath.

"I will not tolerate this," he said.

"I will conduct such checks in near future too and if they are found to be habitual late-comers, action will be initiated against them."

The minister also ordered that a day's pay be cut from their salaries.

Maverick

Mr Yadav is one of India's most colourful and controversial politicians with a reputation of being a maverick.

Soon after his appointment as rail minister, he ordered that all beverages onboard Indian trains be served in traditional clay cups rather than plastic glasses.

This, he said, would boost a traditional cottage industry, economically empowering millions of potters around the country.

It was also environmentally friendly, he added.

But his critics dismissed the move as a gimmick, arguing that there were simply not enough potters in India to meet the demands of serving one of the world's largest railway systems.

Reports said that first-class passengers on board Indian express trains were dismayed at the sight of liveried waiters serving tea, coffee and even soup in clay cups.

But political analysts say the move is in keeping with Mr Yadav's carefully cultivated image as a "man of the masses".

Mr Yadav is from India's most lawless state, Bihar, and owes his political rise to his popularity among some of the country's poorest people.