PHED accused of denying rights to casual staff
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 17 2025: All Manipur PHED Workers and Employees' Association has accused the chief engineer and officials of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) of violating the rights of casual/muster roll employees who have been serving for the past 27 to 30 years.

Addressing media persons at Manipur Press Club, here, on Sunday, association president Sapam Shamungou Singh said that the mandatory forms (specific identification number) submitted by 17 division offices of PHED were found incorrectly filled and submitted.

He alleged that since the forms were filled in violation of the prescribed guidelines, the rights of casual/muster roll employees, who have been serving in the department for the past three decades, stand to be undermined.

He also claimed about reports indicating that no appointment or engagement orders were issued to casual/muster roll employees who have been working since December 31, 1995 .

These employees, however, were approved by the state government as casual/muster roll staff, and such approvals should be considered as valid appointment orders, he asserted.

Sapam Shamungou added that the conversion order No 9 of January 11, 1999, which covered 888 casual/muster roll employees, was actually a work-charged appointment.

If there is any difference between appointment, engagement and conversion orders, it should be clearly defined, he maintained.

He further stressed that Form SIN-4 (A), meant for the allotment of Specific Identification Numbers (SIN) for work-charged, muster roll and casual employees, must be issued to all engaged casual muster roll employees as required.

Shamungou also expressed disappointment over the manner in which the fate of casual/muster roll employees has been rendered uncertain by the division offices of PHED .

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