Promised by CM, HPSEB withdraws chargesheet against JAC leaders
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source Internet
Shimla, Aug 20,
As committed by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and in a significant relief to employees of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB), the Board management has withdrawn the chargesheet issued to leaders of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of employees, engineers, and pensioners.
The move follows the intervention of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who acted on a formal complaint from the employees’ body. Earlier, JAC leaders E. Lokesh Thakur and Hira Lal Verma were charge sheeted for allegedly engaging in trade union activities outside the Board premises.
During a meeting with the JAC on August 12, CM Sukhu directed the Board to drop the disciplinary action and criticized officials for adopting what he termed an “anti-democratic” approach towards employees’ representatives. He also instructed the Board to lift restrictions on union activities outside its main office.
The Chief Minister further assured that the long-pending demand for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for HPSEB employees would be considered positively. He also directed the management to clear gratuity, leave encashment dues, and pending revised pension amounts of retired employees without delay.
Welcoming the decision, JAC convener Hira Lal Verma said the withdrawal of the chargesheet had “restored employees’ faith in the government’s democratic functioning.” He, however, alleged that the Board chairman and the state power secretary were attempting to bypass the Board’s administrative structure, leading to resentment among staff.
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