Wakf Board employees went on a pen down strike here on Monday protesting against the non payment of salaries for the month. Irate employees, numbering more than hundred, locked all the offices in the Haj House, turned off power supply and squatted before the main gate demanding immediate payment of salaries. They raised slogans against Minority Welfare Secretary, Syed Omer Jaleel.
Many offices such as Telangana State Haj Committee, Minority Finance Corporation, Urdu Academy function from the Haj House and their work suffered on account of turning off of power supply.
Last month also the Wakf Board employees received their pay packet 13 days late as in the absence of special officer, the CEO is not empowered to draw a huge amount of Rs. 65 lakh. Ultimately the Secretary, Minorities Welfare, intervened and authorised the CEO to draw the amount. The problem started with the High Court staying the GO issued by government appointing M.J. Akbar as the Board’s Special Officer when it was challenged. This month also the same problem cropped up and the Board employees did not get their salaries on May 1. The next day they served a strike notice to the CEO that they would go on strike if the salaries were not paid by Monday. The employees wondered when an officer on deputation from the Revenue Department was paid her salary why not other employees of the Board.
Mohd Asadullah, the new CEO of Wakf Board, said the government was seized of the matter and a solution would be found soon.
He said the AP government had already written to the TS to authorise the CEO for drawing the salary.
