Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) Axes 771 Contractual Employees; Union Calls Strike

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) relieved 771 contractual employees from their jobs today, leading to massive protests by ASTC employees at the Corporation’s head office at Paltan Bazar here. Paltan Bazar police brought the situation under control. 

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that those who got jobs on the strength of recommendations without having to face an interview would lose their jobs. “Gone are the days of recommendations. Merit will be the only criterion for jobs now. The officers who gave illegal appointments were the first culprits, followed by those who got illegal appointments. Even if any of those appointing officers have gone on deputation, the investigation officers will pull them back,” he said. It came to light that hundreds of employees working in the ASTC for a long time got appointments illegally from the then-authorities in the corporation.

According to sources, the State government had doubts over the procedure for the appointment of a section of contractual ASTC employees. The Transport Department did seek the documents related to their appointments. During scrutiny, it came to light that the appointments of 771 contractual employees were not in accordance with the rules.

The scrutiny also revealed that the mandatory issuance of advertisements before filling up posts with contractual or permanent appointments was not followed. The irregularities in appointments came to light while the Transport Department was investigating the reasons behind losses incurred by the corporation.

Speaking to The Sentinel, State Transport Workers’ Association general secretary Dwijen Lahkar said, “ASTC has only 747 permanent employees compared to 2,123 contractual employees. With today’s release of contractual workers, the corporation will be left with only 1,352 contractual employees. We will resort to a statewide cease-work agitation starting tomorrow. We will not allow the 747 permanent workers to work either. Our agitation will continue till the corporation does not restore the jobs of the 771 contractual employees. We will exempt the plying of ASTC buses from our agitation so as not to affect the movement of common people.”

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