Team News Riveting
Kochi, March 28
The Kerala High Court on Monday pulled up Left Democratic Front (LDF) government and barred the employees from participating in the ongoing two-day nationwide strike organised by the National
National Convention of Workers against the policies of the Centre on March 28 and 29.
While directing the State to declare dies non (a day on which no legal business can be done, or which does not count for legal purposes) on the protest days, Division Bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly said the participation of government servants in the ongoing two-day strike is “illegal.”
The Bench directed the State to issue directions prohibiting the same while adding that no government servant shall participate in the strike as it was against Rule 86 of the Kerala Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1960.
“Reading of Rule 86 makes it manifestly clear that no Government servant shall engage himself in any strike or in any similar activities. Government servants should not engage themselves in any concerted or organised slowing down or attempt at slowing down Government work or in any act, which has the tendency to impede the reasonably efficient and speedy transaction of Government Work. Concerted or organised refusal on the part of Government servants to receive their pay will entail severe disciplinary action,” the Division Bench said in its interim order passed while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Chandra Chooden Nair S.
The petitioner contended that the state was encouraging its employees to go on strike against the Union government by paying them salary for the days when they abstain from work. A joint forum of central trade unions had given a call for a nationwide strike to protest against government policies affecting workers, farmers and people. Starting from midnight on Monday, the 48-hour protest has brought practically all activities in the state to a grinding halt.
