New Essential Services Act soon: CM

MUMBAI, FEB 12: Chief Minister Narayan Rane today announced that a new Essential Services Act ESA will soon be enacted to prohibit strike at institutions providing emergency services.

The Act will empower the State Government to announce illegal any strike or lockout in organisations providing services like public transport, LPG, milk, water and electricity supply, hospitals among others. 8220;If employees offering these services go on a strike, public life gets affected seriously. However, the State Government does not have any power or act to curb such menace and hence the new Act will be introduced. The Act provides that an offender will be charged Rs 200 and six months imprisonment,8221; Rane said.

Rane further added that the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act will be amended to make it more stringent. 8220;All offences under this Act will be made cognizable and non-bailable. It will be the responsibility of the accused to prove that he is not guilty, according to the new Act,8221; Rane said.

The chiefminister added that a total of 2,250 cases were filed in the court in connection with food adulteration in last three years. 8220;As many as 836 cases were sorted out and the accused were acquitted in 690 cases. Punishment was awarded to the accused only in 146 cases. The new Act will help change the scenario,8221; Rane said.