• ASTC employees in Guwahati protest over decision to lay off

    Regional
    ASTC employees in Guwahati protest over decision to lay off
    The situation worsened as the irate workers requested that the decision to fire them be reversed right away.

    Digital Desk: On Wednesday afternoon, a heated situation broke out at the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) office in Guwahati's Paltanbazar neighbourhood as a result of the decision to fire numerous employees.

    Several affected workers reportedly gathered at the ASTC office in Paltanbazar and confronted the State Transport Employees Union's general secretary with questions regarding their unannounced termination from their positions.

    The situation worsened as the irate workers requested that the decision to fire them be reversed right away.

    To manage the situation, Paltanbazar police have arrived on the spot.
    Yesterday morning, it was revealed that up to 771 illegally hired workers might lose their jobs due to the ASTC.

    An official notice alleges that when Anand Prakash Tiwari and Khagendra Nath Chetia served as Managing Directors, a total of 2,274 personnel were hired without following the proper procedures.

    "In regards to the hiring of contractual personnel, it has been claimed that all 2274 employees were hired without following the proper procedure, the system of reservations, or conducting any interviews. The same is to be looked into, and if it is discovered to be true, a show cause notice for defying government regulations will be sent to the then-MD of ASTC and departmental proceedings will be started against such government, according to the notice.

    "Accordingly, the Transport Department will review the current contractual staff of ASTC after conducting an investigation and conducting an evaluation, and the necessary directive will be given to keep only the contractual staff who are legally required and essential, and to release the rest immediately. This workout must be finished in 60 days," it added.