Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, October 29:
Taking a tough line against its striking employees, the state government has declared the 12-day old strike launched by the Joint Administrative Council (AMGEO and AMTUC) and the Manipur Secretarial Services Association illegal.
Provisions of the Manipur Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1984, have also been invoked in respect of nurses serving at government hospitals and health care centres, who joined the strike from yesterday.
The action came even as most government establishments, including hospitals, and other health centres, remained paralyzed and employees of more departments joined in the strike.
The state chief secretary, in a notification dated October 27, 2001, declared that the ongoing cease work strike violated rule 7(ii) of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1964 and hence is illegal.
The notification observed that the cease work strike has seriously hampered the administration particularly in the delivery of services to the public, and appealed in the name of the Governor to all employees taking part in the cease work strike to desist immediately in the interest of the general public and administrative decency.
The notification warned that henceforth any state government employee taking part in the strike, including any activity relating to the strike, would be subjected to disciplinary action under the Central Civil Services Rules, 1965, as applicable to Manipur, as well as criminal proceedings for offences under the appropriate provisions of law.
The notification also made it clear that the period of unauthorized absence, refusal to work or stoppage or slowing down of work due to the illegal strike will be treated as on dies non i.e.no work, no pay.
In the meantime, following reports that nurses working in various government hospitals, dispensaries, primary health centres and primary health sub centres have joined the current JAC strike from yesterday and have refused to perform 'their duties, the government has invoked the Manipur Essential Services Maintenance Act, and directed the nurses to return to duty within 24 hours.
A notification issued today by the commissioner, health, in this regard noted mat the participation of the nurses in the JAC strike violated the prohibition on strikes in essential services currently in place under the Manipur ESMA.
It directed the nurses to resume their respective duties within 24 hours from midnight of October 29, failing which disciplinary action would be taken against them.