AAP govt stops termination of contractual employees

Over 1 lakh contractual employees, including doctors, paramedics, clerks, drivers and teachers, got a lifeline from the new Delhi government, which banned termination of their services till the completion of a review.

The Aam Aadmi Party had promised in the run-up to the Assembly polls regularisation of the services of all workers in government offices hired on contract.

On the second day in office, the Arvind Kejriwal government’s Finance Minister Manish Sisodia was given a presentation on the government’s financial condition in the secretariat, which remained out of bounds for mediapersons.

On the contract employees’ issue, an official spokesperson said: “The government would like to take a view on the existing policy regarding status of contractual employees engaged in various departments and organisations under the Delhi government.

“Therefore services of contractual employees engaged by the departments should not be terminated till further instructions in the matter. If any termination is likely to take place, it should be stopped till further orders,” said the statement.

Meanwhile, Industries Minister Satyendra Jain struck down a clause which allegedly harassed aspiring traders seeking a licence from authorities.

Jain decided to do away with the requirement of consent from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Municipal Corporation of Delhi Trade Licence wing, which issued acknowledgements under the provisions of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Act 2006. The formality was said to be a major stumbling block for traders.

“The department is of the view that provisions of this law are being violated and it is deterring a large number of traders from carrying out their business due to delays, harassment and increase in transaction costs,” he said.

On women’s security, the government asked Director General (Home Guards) to prepare a road map for deployment of home guards or marshals in buses for passenger security. The directions were given by Transport Minister Gopal Rai.