Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has sacked 45 employees in sheer violation of the advisory issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment against the termination of employees during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown.
In an order issued on May 5, the Director Information disengaged 45 stringers, most of them from Kashmir region, working as reporters, translators and camerapersons in the department for over five years. The move of terminating the services of these 45 employees come in wake of the GAD circular issued on May 24, 2019. The circular had directed that “Any person engaged on need basis shall be immediately disengaged”
“Whereas stringers (reporters, translators, cameramen and hired editor films) were empannelled/hired/engaged by the department subject to the condition that it will not confer any right or entitle them to any regular service or future permanent appointment in the department against any permanent or temporary vacant posts and such engagement will be purely on need basis and will be discontinued by the department at any point of time without giving any notice,” reads the DIPR order.
“Whereas, after examining the matter, the Administrative Department vide letter no ID/Estt/30/2015 dated 30.04.2020 has communicated to this office that the stringers engaged temporarily by the information department against non-existing posts should be disengaged forthwith. The instructions issued by the GAD by the circular No.30-GAD of 2019 dated 24.05.2019 be strictly followed by all the departments,” it adds.
Meanwhile, the disengaged stringers have made a representation to Lt Governor GC Murmu to seek his intervention.
Making a fervent appeal, the terminated employees say that during their stint, they were given key assignments; including covering Advisors to hon’ble Governor, besides covering several other vital events including visits of several high profile personalities like President of India, Prime Minster, Home Minister, hon’ble Chief Justice of India and Press council of India.
“During the period, we covered all major events, meetings and functions of the Raj Bhavan, Chief Minister’s Office, Cabinet Ministers from the previous Government, along with other Government functionaries as desired by the department. Besides routinely covering the entire business of assembly, GST Conclave held at Srinagar, Back to Village Programme—an ambitious programme of the Government, besides facing all odds, we remained available on duty post August 05 developments in the State,” the letter written to LG reads.
The stringers have urged LG to intervene so that the extension of their services could be grant at the earliest.
“We humbly hope that our concerned Department is also directed to prepare a comprehensive job policy at an earliest, so that our professional services are acknowledged and permanent employment is provided to us,” they added.
It is pertinent to mention that the Ministry of Labour and Employment in a March 20 communication had advised all state and UT administrations not to terminate employees in the face of a “catastrophic situation due to outbreak of Covid-19.”
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