DoPT warns Central staff against dharna

Thursday, 19 November 2015 | PNS | New Delhi

The Department of Personnel and Training(DoPT) has warned Central Government employees of disciplinary action if they take part in the proposed nationwide dharna by their association. The protest call is given by National Joint Council of Action(NJCA) in pursuance of their charter of demands including revision of pay and allowances and weekly hours of work and leave. There are neatly 50 lakh Central Government employees.

In a stern directive, DOPT warned of “consequences” including deduction of wages and disciplinary action and asked Secretaries of Central Government Ministries not to sanction casual leave or other kind of leave to an employee during the period of the strike.  The top officials were also asked to ensure safety of employees willing to attend office.

“There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The Supreme Court has also agreed in several judgments that going on a strike is a grave misconduct under the conduct rules and that misconduct by the Government employees is required to be dealt with in accordance with the law. Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action,” DOPT directive specified.

In case the employees go on strike, a report indicating the number of employees who took part in the proposed strike may be conveyed on the evening of the day, the order said. 

It also said Joint consultative machinery (JCM) for Central Government employees was already working at different levels to address demands of the employees by either reaching amicable settlement or referring the matter to the Board of Arbitration in relation to pay and allowances, weekly hours of work and leave, whenever no amicable settlement could be reached in relation to these items, it said.

Source :  http://www.dailypioneer.com/