Business in State government offices and classes in State-run schools are likely to be affected from January 22, as the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees’ Organisations (Jactto-Geo) has called an indefinite strike over its primary demand for revoking the new pension scheme.
However, the State government on Monday warned of strong action against unauthorised absence.
In her letter to the Heads of Departments, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan said that demonstration or any other form of agitation affecting the normal functioning of government offices amounted to a violation of the Tamil Nadu Government Servant Conduct Rules, 1973. In case of employees’ absence, it would be considered unauthorised, and they will not be entitled to pay and allowances, in accordance with the principle of ‘no work no pay’.
However, leaders of employees’ associations sought to make light of the warning. “This warning is routine. We are going ahead with the indefinite strike. We will hold demonstrations in all taluks on January 22, followed by picketing on Wednesday. On Thursday, we will resort to agitations in districts and on Friday, we will hold a meeting to decide the future course of action,” Tamil Nadu Government Employees’ Association general secretary M. Anbarasu said.
‘No right or justification’
Quoting the Supreme Court judgment in T.K. Rangarajan Vs. Government of Tamil Nadu which observed that there was “no fundamental or legal/statutory right to go on strike” and that there was no moral or equitable justification to go on strike, and hence, government employees “cannot claim that they can take the society at ransom [sic] by going on strike”, the Chief Secretary warned of strict action against striking employees.
“Disciplinary action should also be taken promptly for such unauthorised absence. In this connection, it is also informed that application for ‘casual leave’ or any leave other than medical leave shall not be allowed during the period of strike,” the communication stated.
Before sanctioning medical leave, the genuineness of the medical certificate would have to be ascertained by referring individuals to the Medical Board. “If the Medical Board finds that the certificate produced is not on real medical grounds, the government servants concerned are liable for penal action,” it added.
There would be a headcount on January 22, and the details are to be communicated to the Heads of Departments and in turn to the Secretary of Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department by 10.30 a.m. This will be done on all working days until the strike is over.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Tamil Nadu Secretariat Association and the Tamil Nadu Government Officers’ Union met the Chief Secretary and assured her that they won’t be taking part in the stir.
