FIRs lodged against 23 Haryana Roadways workers for disrupting essential services

This action by the Gurugram police came a day against the attempted strike against the state transport department.

A day after the attempted statewide strike against the Haryana transport department, the Gurugram police filed FIRs against 23 Haryana Roadways employees (including local union leaders) for disrupting bus services at the city depot.

The Haryana Roadways workers went on strike over the transport department's proposal to introduce 700 private buses to their fleet. (Yogendra Kumar/HT PHOTO)

The accused have been charged under Section 5 and 7 of the Haryana Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1974, which was implemented by the High Court in Chandigarh on August 30 in anticipation of the ‘chakka jaam’, or complete shutdown, being planned by various transport unions in Haryana. ESMA is meant to ensure uninterrupted conduct of certain essential infra services such as health care, postal services and public transport even in the face of disruption.

“The accused were trying to stop the buses from plying and also raised slogans against the government,” ASI Anil P, who is stationed at the bus stand, said.

On Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, transport employees across the state held protests and tried to shut down state bus services, leading to heavy police deployment, which, in turn, led to incidents of lathicharge being reported from Jind, Hisar and Fatehabad. The accused were also booked under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, preventing unlawful assembly of more than four people.

The complainant in the case is Gaurav Antil, general manager (Gurugram), Haryana Roadways. “I acted on instruction from the state authorities in reporting these people. FIRs have been filed at Sector 14 police station and we will let them take appropriate action against these people for violation of the Essential Services Act,” he said.

Haryana Roadways workers had planned to launch an indefinite strike on Wednesday to protest against the state government’s decision to privatise bus services, a move they say will lead to reduced wages, lesser job security and increased fares.

“If the workers affiliated to transport union fail to comply with our directive, we will be very strict with them,” Dhanpat Singh, additional chief secretary, transport, told Hindustan Times earlier this month.