The CPM-backed Co-ordination Committee today instructed its members to challenge in the state administrative tribunal (SAT) or the high court the Bengal government’s decision to showcause those employees who remained absent on the day of the Citu-sponsored general strike on February 28.
Ananta Banerjee, the general secretary of the Co-ordination Committee, instructed all district unit chiefs to take the officers who issue the show-cause notices to court.
The government has decided to dock a day’s salary of those employees whose answers to the show-cause notices are not satisfactory.
Banerjee said the government’s decision violated the “right to strike” given to employees under the West Bengal Service Rules.
“Nearly one lakh employees had stayed away from office on February 28 in support of the strike. Our members will mention this in their replies to the notices. The heads of offices who will issue the show-cause notices will be dragged to court as no step can be initiated against the employees who had supported the strike,” he said.
According to home department estimates, nearly 63,000 employees remained absent.