In a major breather to those employed under Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) in polyclinics across Punjab and Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday quashed the termination orders of a number of contractual employees issued by the central government.
Though a detailed order in this regard is awaited, the single-judge bench of justice Deepak Sibal ruled in favour of the sacked employees.
As many as 17 petitions were decided by the high court on Tuesday. These employees were recruited under a 2003 scheme of central government executed by Western Command for Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh in this region.
These employees were hired for polyclinics opened almost in each district across India on contract basis to provide health facilities to ex-servicemen and their family members. These employees included doctors, technicians and Class-4 staff among others.
Besides ex-servicemen, a large number of those recruited were civilians as well. After serving for 10-12 years, a large number of employees were being handed over termination orders before the age of superannuation that too without assigning any reason.
"These petitioners were handed termination orders by the employer in 2013 and 2014 without assigning any reason. The petitioners had challenged these orders. According to the terms and conditions of employment, they were allowed to continue with their service till the age of their superannuation if the employee's conduct or performance was found to be good," Pardeep Sharma, one of the petitioners' counsels, told Hindustan Times.
{{/usCountry}}"These petitioners were handed termination orders by the employer in 2013 and 2014 without assigning any reason. The petitioners had challenged these orders. According to the terms and conditions of employment, they were allowed to continue with their service till the age of their superannuation if the employee's conduct or performance was found to be good," Pardeep Sharma, one of the petitioners' counsels, told Hindustan Times.
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