ESMA in place in Punjab, revenue officials say strike is on, but ready for dialogue

Tejinder Singh Nangal, DC office employees union president, said CM Bhagwant Mann should have tried to provide a resolution to our issue. “But he is only threatening us. We had given a notice to the government 15 days ago. We are ready for a dialogue and looking for an amicable solution.”

Mohan Singh Bhedpura, former president of Revenue Patwar Union, added that this was not for the first time that Punjab government was invoking Esma. “This was done by former CM Parkash Singh Badal in 1999. That time 32 patwaris were dismissed from service. However, then Ajnala byelection was round-the-corner and the issue boomeranged. All of them had to be reinstated.”

He said, “What will the government do by dismissing the patwaris? Of 4,716 posts, only 1500 have been filled. Those who have been appointed recently are getting a stipend of Rs 167 everyday. This is peanuts. Then a youth from Bathinda is posted at Hoshiarpur. Why would anyone take so much of trouble to be posted there and then get booked for peanuts.” He said they would continue with the flood relief work and they had already told the government.

A government official, however, said that the revenue officials are unwilling to disburse the compensation. “The government’s doing this by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) but they are needed. They cannot say they will strike work when the government is in the process of compensating. They sought filling of posts and we filled 1,000 posts. As many as 700 more would be filled. Now, they have an issue with the stipend which would be given for 1.5 years. They want everything instantly but if they go on strike then the consequences will follow.”

Noted economist from Punjabi University, Patiala, Prof Kesar Singh Bhangoo criticised the government for invoking Esma. In a Facebook post, he said, “I condemn the invoking of Esma by Punjab government. People of Punjab did not elect AAP government to impose Esma.”

More than 2,000 employees under the banner of the Revenue Patwar Union and the Revenue Kanungo Association have called for an indefinite pen-down strike from Friday to protest the registration of a corruption case against a ‘patwari’ and a ‘kanungo’ (both revenue officials) in Sangrur district a week ago.

The DC Office Employees’ Association will observe a pen-down strike from September 11 to September 13 to press for their various demands. The government invoked sub-section (1) of section 4 of the East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1947, to order the said officials to not leave their place of posting till October 31 or till further orders.

Meanwhile, the Revenue Patwar Union and the Revenue Kanungo Association have claimed their colleague has been booked in a false case and demanded the FIR be withdrawn. On the other hand, around 3,500 employees under the banner of the DC Office Employees’ Association are demanding promotion to the posts of superintendent grade-2 and senior assistants.

Terming the move of AAP government in Punjab to invoke East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act following calls of pen down strike by revenue officials and employees at deputy commissioners’ offices as “dictatorial decision”, Shiromani Akali Dal Wednesday demanded that decision be revoked as Constitution allowed people to “raise the voice for their rights”.

SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said, “If an employee is giving a notice 15 days prior, it is the duty of the government to address the issue. It has happened for the first time that government is snatching away the fundamental rights of the people.”

Slamming AAP government in the State, Cheema said, “The party which was born out of agitation today wants to rob employees and other people of their rights so that they are not able to raise the voice for their rights. This is very strange.”

Cheema said “government should first listen to the protesting employees and tell everything to the people who will judge themselves who is truthful and who is liar”. “We also advocate that when it comes to floods, everyone should co-operate and I think employees are co-operating. And if some employees association gives notice of pen down strike 15 days in advance, you issue a letter of [invoking] ESMA that you are not ready to listen to anyone. The government should withdraw this order. This is a democratic country. People can raise their voice for their rights. Constitution allows us. It is everyone’s right to raise their issue.”

The Akali leader said “ESMA is invoked in exception circumstances when there is emergency.” He said “Rather, the government is on undeclared strike as it did not address the issue of promotions raised by protesting employees.”

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar while accusing the AAP government in the State of “double speak on the issue of corruption”, said “When it comes to taking action, the government only sees employees while tainted AAP former and sitting Cabinet Ministers enjoy state patronage and immunity.”

In a written statement, Jakhar said, “The clean-up must begin from home and AAP regime must take the most strict action against its corrupt ministers and leaders. If anyone including an employee is found guilty action must be taken as per law.”