More HC staff to join strike today

TURNING DOWN the appeal of president of the High Court Employees-Officers? Association Justice Bhanwar Singh, Class III and IV staff of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court began their indefinite strike here today.

TURNING DOWN the appeal of president of the High Court Employees-Officers’ Association Justice Bhanwar Singh, Class III and IV staff of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court began their indefinite strike here today.

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The strike is likely to intensify further with Class III employees in Allahabad also deciding to join the strike from Tuesday. General secretary of the association Rakesh Verma said the Class IV Association was holding a meeting to decide its stand.

The strike hit functioning at the high court Lucknow bench, which hears about 3000 cases daily. Filing of fresh cases also dropped today. The Association is demanding the re-instatement of its general secretary Rakesh Verma, who had been suspended nearly eight years ago. The Association claimed that no inquiry was pending against him in the court.

On Monday, the district administration remained on high alert in view of the strike. Circle officers of Aliganj, Bazar Khala and Chowk, eight inspectors/station officers, 20 sub-inspectors, 90 constables and one company of PAC personnel had been posted to avert any untoward situation.

Verma told HT that the agitation would remain peaceful and there was no progress in the dialogue between the Association and the high court administration to resolve the issue.