In an abrupt turnaround, the State Government on Thursday withdrew GOs 399 and 415 which it had recently issued to facilitate repatriation of non-local employees, mainly from the Telangana districts. The Government apparently bowed to bitter criticism from Opposition parties and employees unions which were sore that the orders had completely undermined the spirit of GO 610 issued in 1985 to send back the employees to their respective zones in adherence to the spirit of the Presidential Order of 1975.

The announcement about scrapping the twin orders was made by the Group of Ministers (GOM) to oversee implementation of GO 610 following a meeting leaders of Telangana NGOs Association had with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy before he left for Srikakulam. Later in the day, a one-line GO 423 was issued cancelling the two orders. It was only on June 5 that the Government came up with GO 399 setting out norms for identifying employees to be repatriated on "last in-first go" basis from among excess non-local staff. On the other hand, employees on deputation were supposed to be sent on "first in-first go" principle.

After a meeting with the unions, the Government issued another GO 415 on June 12 that enabled employees to avail voluntary repatriation wherever they were in excess. Thereafter, the axe would fall on staff on deputation who got regularised in the posts in violation of Presidential Order. The rest would be sent on "last in-first go" basis.

The leaders of the NGOs association were said to have requested Dr. Reddy to set aside the GOs 399 and 415 as they impacted the staff adversely. Dr. Reddy, however, offered to scrap the GOs and asked Chief Secretary J. Harinarayan to finalise in a couple of days fresh guidelines for redeployment of employees in their respective zones. The Joint Staff Council of which Harinarayan is chairman will meet on Friday and Saturday and submit its recommendations by Monday.

GOM Chairman D. Srinivas told reporters that the GOs were being scrapped in deference to the demands of the employees unions and to avoid political parties from exploiting the situation. GO 610, he said, would be implemented before June 30, he added.

Incompetence

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) claimed victory following withdrawal of the GOs and cancelled its further agitation. The Telugu Desam, however, said it exposed the incompetence of the Government while Congress leaders exuded confidence that the repatriation would be completed by month-end.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail