New Delhi: claiming that 72 hour power strike “Compromise with national interests” in Uttar PradeshThe Allahabad High Court on Friday issued bailable warrants against 29 office-bearers of the UP Vidyut Karmachari Samyukta Sangharsh Samiti, a body representing employees of the state electricity department.
Together the demands The employees of the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Department started the strike from 10 pm on Thursday night due to the selection of the chairman and managing director and pay anomalies in the power companies. The talks held on Wednesday between the state government and a section of the protesting employees of the electricity department did not yield any result on Wednesday.
“Keeping in view the urgency involved in the matter, bailable warrants are hereby issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow to the above office bearers of the association requiring their presence before this court at 10.00 am on March 20, 2023,” A bench of Justices said. Ashwini Kumar Mishra and Vinod Diwakar.
The court also issued notices to these office-bearers, initiating contempt proceedings against them for violating its order passed by the High Court in December last year.
The December order said the power department should ensure that supply is not disrupted and “strict action” be taken in case of disruption.,
On Friday, the court said that the state authorities must ensure appropriate action against erring officials, and said, “From what has been placed before us, a grave situation appears to be arising which requires immediate attention… Even if the demands raised by the workers have merit, yet, the entire State is at grave risk. Public interest cannot be put at odds.”
It added, “Even as the national interest has been compromised due to shortfall in power generation in various generating units of the State.”
The court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Vibhu Rai giving notice of the strike on Friday.
The application, seen by ThePrint, asserts that “due to the fact that the union has gone on strike, a large number of people will be affected and there will be local hospitals as well as places where power cuts will not only Many people will be in trouble. Rather, their basic right to live will also be denied.
Therefore, it sought the court to take note of the strike and direct the officials to resume work.
During the hearing, Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal, appearing for the UP government, told the court that the state is making alternative arrangements by demanding the employees. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)National Grid Corporation and other central bodies.
also took action under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) Action has been initiated against the erring officials. ESMA is a law passed by the Parliament in 1968 to ensure the maintenance of essential services in the country including electricity supply. Under the Act, the government may prohibit strikes in any essential services for a period of six months at a time, and Striking workers can be punished with imprisonment of up to one year and/or fine.
The next hearing of the matter will be held on Monday at 10 am.
Contempt notice issued
Rai filed an application in an ongoing suo motu case in the Allahabad High Court. The PIL was initiated by the High Court in December last year, taking note of the disruption in power supply in some areas in Prayagraj.
The court had issued a notice to him on 6 December 2022 through the General Secretary of the Electricity Employees Joint Sangharsh Samiti.
It had said in its December 6 order, “It is expected that the electricity department will ensure that the supply is not disrupted and if it is disrupted in any way, strict action will be taken.”
However, the court, in its order passed on Friday, noted that so far no one has appeared before the committee in the petition.
Rai mentioned the matter before the High Court on Friday morning, and it came up for hearing at 2 pm. Rai then told the court that the order issued by it on December 6 has been “blamelessly flouted”.
The court took cognizance of the motion which said that 27 lakh power workers of the state have gone on strike for 72 hours. It was also noted that protests have been planned through the state, and the workers have highlighted various demands.
The court then observed that, since the employees’ union has not appeared before the court despite previous orders, “we are left with no option but to issue notices to the employees’ union and its office-bearers to initiate contempt proceedings against them ”
The order lists the names of at least 29 office-bearers of the Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti, Uttar Pradesh, who, it noted, “have actively participated in the strike call”, and have been asked to initiate contempt proceedings. issued notices for
Commenting on the order, Allahabad High Court advocate Abhinav Gaur told ThePrint, “The decision by employees of state power utilities to disrupt power supply in Uttar Pradesh in pursuance of a letter by Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti Uttar Pradesh is taken very seriously. Retrieved from Allahabad High Court.
He said that the action of disrupting the power supply is in violation of the provisions of ESMA, adding that the state government has also initiated action under the Act against the erring employees.
Talking about the impact of the strike on Friday, Gaur said,Supply remained disrupted throughout the day in district Prayagraj and employees of the electricity department were absent from their offices and substations.
(Editing by Richa Mishra)