Roadways strike: Can’t scrap policy on hiring 700 buses, Haryana tells HC

CHANDIGARH : The Haryana government on Wednesday told the Punjab and Haryana high court that it can’t scrap the policy on hiring 700 private buses, which had led to a strike by Haryana Roadways employees.

The 15-day strike, which started on October 16, had ended on November 3 following the high court’s intervention.

State advocate general BR Mahajan told the high court bench of chief justice Krishna Murari and justice Arun Palli that roadways union leaders and government representatives met on November 12, but talks remained inconclusive. “They want policy to be scrapped. But it is not possible at this juncture,” Mahajan said. He added that the service conditions of roadways employees are not affected in any manner due to the new policy. “In fact, we are going to hire more persons,” he added.

The government also told the court that it is procuring 667 more buses and there is no move to privatise the transport services. The bench then asked employee unions as to why they are opposed to the policy when the government has made it clear that it does not affect the employees in any manner. The unions’ counsel responded by stating that with the entry of private players, corporation will go in losses in the long run. He argued that Instead of hiring private buses, the government should start plying 1,000 roadways buses which are not being run due to various reasons.

However, the union sought ten days’ time from the court to submit a detailed note on its reservation to the government policy. The hearing has now been fixed for November 29.

The matter had reached before the high court bench in the form a public interest litigation (PIL) on November 2.

It was on the court’s intervention that roadways employees’ union leaders had agreed to call off strike. The HC has restrained the government from giving effect to suspension of 400 roadways employees and dismissal of 80 probationers, action initiated during strike period.

The government was also asked not to take any coercive action, including proceedings initiated under the Haryana Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), against any employee who was participating in the protest.