HC forms panel to re-examine demand for Pune bench

Meanwhile,with the PBA strike getting over,normal functioning resumed in the Pune courts on Friday. The HC chief justice had reportedly called PBA representatives on Wednesday evening for a discussion on their demand. But according to PBA president Rajendra Umap,they got the letter containing the message late and it was not possible to go to Mumbai at such a short notice. The PBA then sought a meeting on a later date.

PBA is of the opinion that the High Court bench in Pune would save a lot of the money and time of litigants. According to the PBA,the proposed bench would not only be convenient for residents of the city but also for the litigants from western Maharashtra who have to travel all the way to Mumbai for every hearing.

Revenue dept employees on indefinite strike,work affected

Pune: All revenue department officials from the district collectorate joined the statewide indefinite strike from Friday,as announced earlier in the month. The Maharashtra State Revenue Employees’ Organisation had put up a list of 20 demands earlier this month.

According to the district collectorate,all revenue officials are on strike. Laxmikant Pacharane,who represents the union,said they had submitted the list of 20 demands to the government in May this year. “With no initiative taken towards our demands,we are part of the strike,” said one of the employees who was in Jalgaon with Pacharane.

The employees said the government had not initiated any step to resolve the issues,including filling of vacant posts,provision for granting permanent status to temporary posts,constitution of strong laws to protect revenue employees from attacks,creation of new posts at tehsil offices and training employees.

He said employees working in various branches of the revenue department across the state participated in the strike and would continue their protest. Similar rallies were held at the tehsil and district levels by district committees,he said.