Official work remained paralyzed as the indefinite strike by Tamil Nadu government employees and teachers entered the second day on Thursday.
Most of the employees stayed away from offices in defiance of the government's ultimatum to report to work by Thursday, failing which their services would be terminated.
Union leaders said the strike was 'total'.
At the state secretariat, around 20 per cent of the 8,000 staff reported for duty, official sources said.
So far over 700 employees have been arrested under the Essential Services Maintenance Act, police said.
Top government officials will meet in Chennai to study the situation.
The government had on Wednesday invoked ESMA against the secretariat staff who abstained from duty and suspended them from service.
The employees have gone on strike demanding restoration of curtailed benefits.
The government has decided to recruit temporary staff to fill up the vacant posts arising out of the suspensions and issued an order in this regard.
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