Despite SC order, four clerks yet to get jobs back

THE ADMINISTRATION is yet to implement a Supreme Court order to absorb four retrenched clerks in the Treasury Department. According to the court order, Arshad Nazir, Mahendra Kumar, Rajkumar and Rajesh Kumar Prajapati may be absorbed in the department.

THE ADMINISTRATION is yet to implement a Supreme Court order to absorb four retrenched clerks in the Treasury Department.

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According to the court order, Arshad Nazir, Mahendra Kumar, Rajkumar and Rajesh Kumar Prajapati may be absorbed in the department.

The foursome were taken into treasury services after a selection committee was constituted by the then DM in 1991. Though they were taken in as clerks, they were made to work on the posts of assistant accountant. The posts of clerk were not vacant at the time. Only some posts of assistant accountant were vacant.

On May 1, 1996, the foursome were removed from service verbally.

Ironically, their appointment letters had said that they were being adjusted against posts, which had fallen vacant due to suspension of some assistant accountants. Officially, their service books were made and they were even given increment, but later were shown the door unceremoniously, they said.

Aggrieved, they went to the High Court. When there was a High Court order in the retrenched employees’ favour, the government went to the Supreme Court challenging the order.

The apex court passed an order for adjustment of the four employees about a year and a half ago.

On his part, the DM is understood to have told these retrenched employees that they will be taken on posts of clerks, as and when vacancies arise.

But, the employees said there were no vacant posts of clerks at the time of their appointment, yet they were taken, given the salary of clerks and made to perform the job of assistant accountants.

When they were made to work as assistant accountants, for which posts are still vacant, why can’t they be adjusted on the same post? they ask.

Moroever, a fifth person Santosh Kumar who was selected along with these four, is still working as an assistant accountant, but drawing the salary of a clerk.

District magistrate Amrit Abhijat was out of station and thus not available for his comment.