‘Resume waste collection or face action’

HC ALSO PULLS UP MC, POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD FOR BEING MUTE SPECTATORS

SHIMLA: As garbage collection remained affected throughout the 34 wards of the Shimla municipal corporation (MC) for the fifth day due to sanitation workers’ strike, the Himachal Pradesh high court on Saturday directed the workers to resume their duties. The court also pulled up the MC and the pollution control board for being mute spectators while the strike left the town stinking.

A double bench comprising acting chief justice Sanjay Karol and justice Ajay Mohan Goel also directed the MC, deputy commissioner (DC), senior superintendent of police (SSP), and member secretary pollution control board to file affidavits for the next hearing scheduled for May 7. The court also told them to communicate the order to all the employees and ensure compliance.

The court said the sanitation workers, employed by the Shimla Environment, Heritage Conservation and Beautification (SEHB) Society, had entered into an agreement in the meeting held on September 21, 2017, which was also not being adhered to.

The workers are covered under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1973, as notified in 2015. "Municipal solid waste cannot be allowed to remain uncollected within the city, and has to be collected and disposed of in accordance with the law at the earliest," ordered the court, besides directing the workers to immediately resume work and discharge their duties for which they stand engaged.

The court order also clarified that if any of the workers failed to discharge duties, not only would it amount to contempt of court, but also make them liable for termination of services by the MC or the SEHB society, who can re-engage fresh hands for disposal of municipal solid waste.

Following the court order, the striking workers, who are demanding regularisation of jobs besides pay hike and policy for their welfare, planned a meeting to decide future course of action.