Himachal Assembly told: 81 Outsource drivers terminated from HPSEBL, No policy for Re-employment
Shimla, Aug 22,
The Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday informed the Vidhan Sabha that services of 81 outsource drivers engaged with the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) have been terminated, following the scrapping of government vehicles. The state government made it clear that there is no policy under consideration for their re-employment.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu gave this information in a written reply to questions raised by MLAs Yogesh Kumar and Vipin Singh Parmar during the Assembly session.
According to the reply, HPSEBL scrapped 169 vehicles that had completed more than 15 years of service, as per a notification issued by the state transport department on March 20, 2023, in line with Government of India guidelines. As a result, 81 outsource drivers became surplus and their services were terminated on the recommendations of a cabinet sub-committee. “Since these drivers were surplus, no other employees are currently performing their duties,” the government clarified.
The reply also underlined that outsource staff are not treated as government employees. They are engaged through contractors or service providers, and their continuation depends entirely on the requirement of departments, boards, or corporations. “HPSEB, at its own level, dismisses outsource employees when their services are no longer required or if there are complaints about their performance,” the reply stated.
Responding to queries about a policy to safeguard such employees, the government was categorical that there is “no proposal under consideration to re-employ the dismissed outsource drivers or to frame a permanent policy for them.”
The House was further informed that at present, HPSEBL has 7,125 technical staff, 3,032 non-technical staff, and 3,156 employees working on an outsource basis. The government said there is no move underway to rationalize these positions.
The issue is expected to draw sharp reactions from employee unions, who maintain that the state has a responsibility to protect the livelihoods of workers affected by policy-driven decisions, even if they are hired through outsourcing.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
