Chennai: Ahead of the protest call by associations, including Jacto-Geo, which have announced an ‘indefinite strike’ from tomorrow all over the State, Tamilnadu government’s Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan has warned that severe action would be taken against the protestors.
The associations of State government employees plan to go on strike from 22 January under the Joint Action Committee of Tamilnadu Teachers Organisation – Government Employees Organisation (Jacto-Geo) to press their long-time demand regarding scrapping of the complementary pension scheme and payment of 21-month arrears pay under the Seventh Pay Commission.
In the light of this, in a circular to all departments, Girija Vaidyanathan stated that this ‘threat of strike’ by the government employees was against the law and that strict action will be taken against the employees who participate in it.
Girija also asked all the heads of the departments to send the consolidated attendance report of their staff in the proforma given before 10.15 am beginning 22 January and the list of workers who participate in the strike, to the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department.
She also reminded that the Supreme Court has already observed that there is no proper justification from the employees to go on strike and staging a protest would be a punishable offence.
Girija asked the departments to ensure that the employees do not involve in any kind of violence. She said that no employee should take leave with an intention to participate in the strike.
“If any employee has applied for day off other than medical leave (with proper certificates), their period of absence would be considered unauthorised and they are not entitled to pay and allowances,” she said.
She stated that strict action would be taken against employees if they found to have submitted false medical certificates.
In the case of part-time employees, those on daily wages and consolidated pay, are liable to be laid off if found to be participating in the strike, she said in the circular.