Govt's stance change puts contract engineers on shaky ground

As many as 1,287 engineers working in different departments of the government for nearly 10 years now face an uncertain future, following the change of stance of the government over recruitment to backlog jobs.

An agitation was launched in 2000 demanding that recruitments be made to the backlog jobs in the departments of public works, water resources, rural development and panchayat raj. Giving in to the demands of the agitators, the government framed special guidelines for the purpose and also set up a cabinet sub-committee to deal with the issue. While in the guidelines for 2001 two categories were created - in the age groups of 18 to 29 and 29 to 40 - modifications were brought in, creating a separate age group category - 29 to 35 years - in 2002.

Following the changes, the government recruited junior engineers and assistant engineers in phases on contract basis. The government came out with a special merger policy on May 24, 2005, and the services of engineers working on contract basis were regularised. The Cabinet gave post facto approval for the regularisation on August 18, the same year. This, however, led to a number of problems.

As many as 175 engineers, who remained out of the recruitment process, approached the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT), questioning the change in recruitment rules made in 2002. The KAT, in its order on May 25, 2009, set aside the merger process. The Tribunal’s order has put a question mark over the future of engineers serving for seven years. The affected engineers petitioned the High Court, challenging the KAT order. The engineers have been working without promotions or other facilities ever since.

Ashok Harnahalli, then advocate general, arguing for the government, told the High Court that the issue could be resolved if 170 eligible candidates among the petitioners are given jobs. The court asked the government to settle the matter accordingly on humanitarian grounds. On May 28, 2010, the government formed a Cabinet sub-committee under the chairmanship of then Home Minister V S Acharya to look into the issue, with ministers Govind Karjol, S Suresh Kumar, Arvind Limbavali, D Sudhakar, Murugesh Nirani and Balachandra Jarkiholi as members. The sub-committee suggested the government that 138 additional posts be created to solve the problem.

Even as the government was about to accept the proposal, Yeddyurappa had to step down as chief minister and Sadananda Gowda was at the helm. Harnahalli was no longer the advocate general and the stance of the government over the backlog of engineer posts also changed.

Nataraj, additional advocate general, filed an affidavit before the court on November 8 that the government was ready to recruit engineers based on their eligibility. This not only jeopardised the prospects of 170 candidates among the petitioners, but also those of the 1,287 engineers working on contract basis. Even though Harnahalli was nominated the special lawyer to deal with the case, the government’s position remained unchanged.

Now, the court has suggested that the government consider the case on a humanitarian basis. It has been asked to present its view by February 6.