Trade Union Strike 2013 : Instructions issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DOP&T)

 Various forms of protest action on two days Nationwide General strike on 20th and 21st February,2013

MOST IMMEDIATE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI-110001

                                                                                                                           Dated the 15th February, 2013

MANOJ JOSHI

Joint Secretary (AT & Admn.)

D.C. No. 33012/1(s)/2013-Estt-B

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Joint Platform of Action of Government and Associate Services Employee’s Organizations — All India Committee has given a notice that the affiliated organizations of JPA and the mass of employees working in Government services throughout the country will boycott work and resort to various forms of protest action on two days Nationwide General strike on 20th& 21st February, 2013 in pursuance of their Charter of Demands.

2. The instructions issued by the Department of Personnel & Training prohibit the Government servants from participating in any form of strike including mass casual leave, go-slow etc. or any action that abet any form of strike in violation of Rule 7 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964. Besides, in accordance with the proviso to Rule 17 (1) of the Fundamental Rules, pay and allowances is not admissible to an employee for his absence from duty without any authority. As to the concomitant rights of an Association after it is formed, they cannot be different from the rights which can be claimed by the individual members of which the Association is composed. It follows that the right to form an Association does not include any guaranteed right to strike. There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The Supreme Court has also agreed in several judgments that going on a strike is a grave misconduct under the Conduct Rules and that misconduct by the Government employees is required to be dealt with in accordance with the law. Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action. In this connection, your kind attention is also drawn to this Department’s CM No. 33012/1(s)/2008-Estt (B) (pt) dated 1 2th September, 2008 (copy enclosed)

3. A Joint Consultative Machinery for Central Government employees is already functioning. This scheme has been introduced with the object of promoting harmonious relations and of securing the greatest measure of co-operation between the Government, in its capacity as employer, and the general body of its employees in matters of common concern, and with the object, further of increasing the efficiency of the public service. The JCM at the different levels have been discussing issues brought before it for consideration and either reaching amicable settlement or referring the matter to the Board of Arbitration in relation to pay and allowances, weekly hours of work and leave, whenever no amicable settlement could be reached in relation to these items.

4. The Central Government Employees under your Ministry/Departments may, therefore, be suitably informed of the aforesaid instructions under the Conduct Rules issued by this Department and other regulations upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and dissuaded from resorting to strike in any form. You may also issue instructions not to sanction Casual Leave or other kind of leave to employees if applied for, during the period of the proposed strike and ensure that the willing employees are allowed hindrance free entry into the office premises. For this purpose, Joint secretary (Admn) may be entrusted with the task of coordinating with security personnel. Suitable contingency plan may also be worked out to carry out the various functions of the Ministry/Department.

5. In case the employees go on strike, a report indicating the number of employees who took part in the proposed strike may be conveyed to this Department on the evening of the day.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,
S/d-
(Manoj Joshi)

Joint Secretary (AT & Admn.)

DOPT OM dated 12-9-2008 : Participation In any form of strike/mass casual leave/boycott of work etc. by Government servants – CCS(Conduct) Rules-DOPT Instruction dated 12-9-2008