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UPPCL unlikely to revoke action against striking staff
Energy minister AK Sharma gives indications of initiating fresh penal action against the striking employees once the court issues order, retaining the tough observation it made
LUCKNOW Chances of UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) revoking the action taken against power employees and their leaders during the recent 72-hour strike have diminished significantly after the Allahabad high court’s severe observations on Monday.
Energy minister AK Sharma on Tuesday gave ample indications of initiating fresh penal action against the striking employees once the court announces its order, retaining the tough observation it made.
“We will act as per the court’s order when it comes,” he said when asked by a section of media. The minister said officials and employees’ leaders harassing employees/contractors who did not join the strike would be identified. “Stern action will be taken against such people,” he warned.
The high court had on Monday reserved its order on a PIL dealing with the issue of strike by electricity department employees of the state despite its previous order for not disrupting power supply.
During the course of hearing, the court took serious note of the strike by power corporation employees and directed the government to inform the court as to what monetary loss had been caused to the state as well as in other forms.
The court also asked the government as to why no arrests had been made after FIRs were lodged against the strikers and their leaders.
As day after the court’s comments, Sharma is believed to have had held a confidential meeting at his residence to discuss the court order, if it came on the lines of the observations made on Monday.
UP Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, which had called the 72-hour strike demanding implementation of the December 3 agreement, was exploring the possible legal options it can exercise against the court order, whenever it comes, said insiders.
“The Sangharsh Samiti may either file a review petition in the high court or challenge the HC order (if it is adverse) in the Supreme Court,” the insider said.
The Samiti leaders had agreed to call off the 72-hour strike around eight hours before time on Sunday noon, after energy minister AK Sharma assured them of undoing the penal action already taken against them and employees, like lodging of FIRs under ESMA and termination of services of around 1,500 contractual workers.
In the meeting where top UPPCL officials were also present, the minister also promised to take ‘meaningful’ action to implement the December 3 agreement.
The December 3 agreement signed between the Sangharsh Samiti and the UPPCL, among other things, talked about initiating a process to select the UPPCL chairman and the MD through the selection committee, as laid down in the Articles of Association, and not through the routine transfer-posting route.
“The entire scenario has, however, changed after the HC’s severe observations on Monday, and it will be interesting to watch as to what order the HC exactly pronounces and what the next move the government and the Sangharsh Samiti make their thereafter,” said an energy department official.
