-Governor asks the government 8 questions
-Governor holds virtual meeting with 10 RTC employees leaders
-RTC lay siege to Raj Bhavan
-Government says the corporation will remain as it is and only employees would be absorbed
K Venkateshwarlu
Hyderabad
A high-voltage drama is going on between the Governor and the BRS government on ‘The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill–2023.
In the midst of the drama, TSRTC employees laid a siege on the Raj Bhavan demanding that the Governor give her consent to the Bill immediately.
The TSRTC employees also observed a two-hour bandh from 6 am to 8 am on Saturday
troubling those who took the Telangana Residential Educational Institutions Recruitment Board (TREIRB) exams.
The Governor sent five questions to the government on ‘The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill–2023’ seeking explanations.
The Governor asked the government to clarify the following five points.
The Bill does not contain details about Central grants, loans and other assistance to the TSRTC since 1958.
The Bill lacks comprehensive details on changing the status of the TSRTC as per Schedule IX of the State Apportionment Act.
The State Government is stating that TSRTC employees will be treated as government
employees.The Governor asked whether the Industrial Disputes Act and labour laws are applicable to them and how their benefits are protected.
The Governor asked the Government to give clear details regarding whether all TSRTC employees will be given pensions at par with Government employees in the merger draft Bill.
She asked the Government to give details so that TSRTC employees can get justice and other benefits in matters like promotions and their cadre normalization, as there are no posts like conductor, controller etc among Government employees.
Meanwhile, the TSRTC employees observed a two-hour bandh from 6 am to 8 am.
Later, at 10 am, the employees organised a rally from PV Marg to Raj Bhavan raising slogans like ‘Governor must give nod to RTC Bill.’
Coming to know about the siege of the Raj Bhavan by TSRTC employees, the Governor tweeted saying that she felt a lot of pain at that.
She tweeted, “I am pained to know about the strike conducted by TSRTC employees inconveniencing the public. I want to convey that I was always with them. Even during the previous strike, I was with them. Now also I am studying the Bill carefully to protect their rights.”
In fact, the Raj Bhavan invited 10 leaders from various unions for discussions with Governor Dr Tamilisai Sounderarajan through virtual meetings as the Governor was in Puducherry.
The Governor addressed the employees JAC of the TSRTC and representatives of the Telangana Mazdoor Union virtually, expressing concern over the future of 43,373 employees.
She said, “I am pained to know about the strike conducted by RTC employees inconveniencing the public. I want to convey that I am always with TSRTC employees. Even during the previous strike I was with you and heard your grievances. There are no personal or political interests involved in withholding consent for introducing the Bill.”
The Governor informed the employees that she is concerned about their pending PRCs, EPF and gratuity and leave encashment dues. Retired TSRTC employees are suffering and sending representations, she said.
She said that around Rs 3,000 crore taken from the Employees Welfare Cooperative Society by the Government has not been returned.
The Governor said, “I am completely in favour of RTC employees. I want the interests of employees to be fully protected.”
The Raj Bhavan Secretariat sent a letter to the government seeking clarification on five points of concern in the draft Bill in the best interests of both the TSRTC employees and the State.
“I am very much concerned that the Bill shouldn’t be introduced haphazardly. Sufficient time should be given to all the parties concerned to debate the provisions of the Bill thoroughly. As the Constitutional head of the State, I have to verify the provisions and protect the larger interest of the public as well as the employees. So I sought legal opinion and clarifications on the five points pointed out. I appeal to the employees and all parties concerned to study the Bill in detail. I am here to assure all employees that I am totally in favour of TSRTC employees and would like to fully ensure that a democratic process is adopted to protect public interests. Once I receive the reply from the government I will take suitable action on the Bill,” the Governor said in her letter.
During the video conference, one of the JAC representatives informed the Governor that employee unions have not given any call for a strike. It is completely a government-sponsored, forced strike. Even women employees were not spared.
“We were threatened and forced to give a strike call and organise the Raj Bhavan siege. Some MLAs and a minister orchestrated this dharna,” the JAC representative said.
Meanwhile, the government replied to the Governor’s questions.The answers are: The equity contributions of the State and the Centre in the APSRTC in United AP were Rs 140.20 crore and Rs 61.07 crore respectively. The proposed Bill provides only for the absorption of the establishment of the TSRTC into government service. The TSRTC would continue to function like now in all other respects after the absorption of its employees into Government service. The Corporation Board would continue as the apex body of the TSRTC under the provisions of the RTC Act, 1950, to manage issues regarding equity, loan, grant or other assistance of the Centre and other matters. Hence, it is not necessary to mention any of these details in the Statement of Objects and Reasons.
As stated supra, the TSRTC will continue to function in its existing form even after the absorption of its employees into government service. The Corporation’s Board would continue as the apex body to the TSRTC. Thus, the nature of the Corporation would not change till bifurcation issues are settled. The issues pertaining to bifurcation are being examined by the Centre, after submission of views by both the States.
The applicability of the Industrial Disputes Act after the absorption of the TSRTC employees into government service would be as per the provisions of the Act. No provision in this regard is required in the Bill. The interests of existing employees are best served by absorption into the Government service, which in fact is one of the main objects of the proposed Bill.
There is no ambiguity in the Bill regarding the applicability of pension provisions or other provisions applicable to government employees to TSRTC employees, after their absorption into government service. Sections 4 and 5 empower the Government to frame provisions in this regard in the interests of employees. Till such time a considered view is taken in these matters by the Government, after discussing the matter with all stakeholders, the Bill provides that existing rules and regulations governing TSRTC employees would continue to apply in the interim period. Sections 4 and 5 of the proposed Bill are within the permitted norms of delegated legislation.
As stated supra, Sections 4 and 5 of the Bill have adequate provisions to decide on such matters. No employee would be put to any hardship in terms of salaries and allowances. There is no bar to continue the various categories and cadres presently in TSRTC, after their absorption in government service by framing suitable service rules regarding that.
In fact, the limited object of the subject matter Bill is to provide an exception to the provisions of the Telangana Prohibition of Employees of State Government Public Sector Undertakings into Public Service Act, 1997 State Act 14 of 1997 which prohibits absorption of employees working in PSUs into public service and matters related thereto.
