AAP govt initiates process to regularise contractual staff
CONFRONTATION Kejriwal says govt will approach SC if LG doesn’t approve the move
NEWDELHI: The Delhi government may be headed for another round of confrontation with lieutenant governor (L-G) Najeeb Jung over regularisation of thousands of contractual employees working in its different departments.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday that the file related to the regularisation of employees would be submitted to the L-G, but if he does not approve it, the government will approach the Supreme Court.
The government has sought proposals from concerned departments by November 15 regarding the regularisation process. A decision in this regard was taken on Saturday during a cabinet meeting held at Kejriwal’s official residence. Chief secretary KK Sharma was directed to monitor the progress on proposals from the different departments.
A year ago, the government decided to make a policy to grant regular employee status to all temporary workers. The Education Department prepared a proposal on trial basis for guest teachers. Jung, however, returned the file raising certain objections.
According to a rough estimate, there are over 50,000 contractual employees working in various departments of the Delhi.
Kejriwal said that instead of implementing the plan for different departments one by one, the government will take a call on the matter after all proposals are received by November 15.
Citing the Supreme Court judgement in the Uma Devi case, Kejriwal said there should be an open examination and contractual employees can be given relaxation based on age and experience.
“The judgement says selection of contractual employees is not rigorous hence does not provide equal opportunity to all, so there should be an open examination to regularise them. Relaxation on age and weightage for their experience can be given to them. We sent guest teachers’ proposal to L-G, but he has sent it back. He had objected to experience relaxation. Government will send it again. If it is not approved then we will move the Supreme Court,” he said.
The Aam Aadmi Party had promised to regularise all contractual employees if it was voted to power.