The Hindu : Front Page : ‘Ultimatum' to State employees

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Thursday, Apr 14, 2011
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‘Ultimatum' to State employees

Special Correspondent

‘No work – no pay' policy to be enforced

S. V. Prasad

HYDERABAD: The State government has decided to forthwith implement the ‘no work – no pay' policy strictly for employees resorting to unconventional and “innovative” agitation programmes such as strike, bandh, pen down, chalk down, tools down, and non-cooperation.

Criminal action will be initiated against the employees/groups that disturb employees on duty during the agitation programmes while the agitation period will be treated as “not duty” and no pay and allowances shall be admissible for that period.

In the orders (GO Ms 177) issued on Wednesday, Chief Secretary S.V. Prasad issued a series of instructions to the heads of departments to prevent employees from participating in the unconventional agitations.

Accordingly, they should furnish day-to-day reports on the agitation to the government and monitor the activities of the employees who sign the attendance register and do not attend to normal work.

In an indirect reference to the recent fortnight-long non-cooperation movement launched by the Telangana employees, the Chief Secretary said in view of the recent experiences and difficulties faced by the government as well as the public, a need had arisen to issue instructions to tackle such unconventional agitation programmes in future. The orders mandate the officials concerned to maintain records of such employees while taking steps to provide necessary protection to the employees attending to duties.

The heads of the departments should initiate suitable disciplinary action against employees who participate in activities such as playing games, beating drums, and other disturbing activities, on the premises of their respective offices, which affect the decency and decorum of the government.

The Chief Secretary wanted suitable disciplinary action to be initiated against employees who participate in the agitation programmes in line with the procedure laid down in the A. P. Pradesh Civil Services (CCA) Rules, 1991, for violation of A.P. Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964. Quoting a Supreme Court judgment, Mr. Prasad said a strike could not be justified on any equitable ground.

Sharp criticism

The latest order, however, evoked sharp criticism from the Telangana Rashtra Samiti which claimed that the government was trying to scuttle the justified demands of the employees by such instructions. TRS MLA T. Harish Rao said prohibiting employees from participating in strikes was tantamount to denial of their fundamental rights.

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