Talk to employees, take action if they don't budge:HC tells UP

The Allahabad High Court today directed the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to initiate a dialogue with state government employees who have been striking work for past one week and ensure smooth supply of essential goods in the meantime.
Asking the Chief Secretary to initiate the dialogue process within 24 hours, the court made it clear that the state government "must take legal action" against the striking employees if the talks failed to make any headway.
The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising justices Sheo Kumar Singh and P K S Baghel on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Ajai Kumar Pandita, who had moved the court seeking directions to the state government for ensuring compliance of UP Government Servant Conduct Rules, 1956, in the wake of the strike.

Directing the state counsel to seek instructions in the matter, the court fixed November 22 as the next date of hearing.
The court also ordered that the state government must ensure that provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act were not violated on account of the strike.
The strike by nearly 18 lakh state government employees to press their demand for removal of anomalies in salary structure and amendments in promotion policy and pension benefits entered the eighth day today.

The government maintained that despite the stir, work in government offices and health services was going on smoothly while the striking staff claimed revenue losses worth Rs 4200 crore to the exchequer.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in response to a question during his Unnao visit today said his government would adhere by the court orders in this regard.
Chief Secretary Javed Usmani has already warned that strict action would be taken against all those who forcibly hamper official work.
Earlier, talks between the leaders of the striking employees and principal secretary (personnel) Rajiv Kumar on November 13 failed to reach a conclusion.
The striking employees held gate meetings this morning and raised slogans against the state government's "apathy"
"The government has shown no desire to end the stalemate," leader of Rajya Karamchari Adhikar manch Harikishore Tiwari said.

He said that though the employees were ready for a dialogue but it should be a positive one and only at the level of chief secretary and chief minister.
He claimed that work was adversely hit in trade tax, information directorate, Shiksha Bhawan, irrigation and PWD departments among others.
Also, with the ministerial staff of health department joining the strike, essential services have started getting hit by the ongoing strike, he added.
Meanwhile a government spokesman said that despite the strike, work in offices including health department was going on smoothly and the door was open for a dialogue with the employees.