New Delhi: Observing that MCD contractors
pocket a much heftier sum than what they pay to daily wagers,
the Central Administrative Tribunal has asked the civic body
to consider employing 43 pump operators working for it for
many years.
"I have found that in comparison with wages of the
applicants (daily wagers), who are getting less than Rs 200
per day, the amount being paid to contractors is very high
taken on a monthly comparative basis," the CAT bench of
Justice B K Suresh said while asking MCD to consider employing
on a regular basis its 43-odd pump operators.
The pump operators were employed through MCD
contractors as daily wagers and working with the civic body
for many years.
"The official respondents (MCD commissioner) are
directed to consider (employing) the applicants (43 daily
wagers) on a regular basis as per their seniority, in place of
freshers wherever regular work or work of nearly regular
nature is available," the CAT said.
The CAT recommended their absorption as regular
employees of the civic body, saying that creating a sanitized
environment for citizens is part of its statutory obligation.
"Prima facie, if the applicants are engaged and thus
allowed to survive, it may benefit the respondents department
and the general public as well. Therefore, the operation of
the pumps is done as part of its functional requirement," it
said.
The CAT`s order came on petition by 43 daily wagers,
working as pump operators with the MCD for the last several
years. Engaged by the MCD through contractors, they used to
work for 84 pumping stations, which are functional almost
during the entire year.
The workers, in their petition, said that as soon as
the monsoon season gets over, the civic body disengages them
through contractors, creating "legal and statutory prejudice
against them."
"Administrative authority is arbitrarily allocating
the work to the contractors and causing loss to the public
exchequer and blocking their right to life and livelihood,"
the workers said.
The MCD, on its part, said that the petitioners are
seasonal employees and they cannot be given the rights of
regular employees.
MCD officials said that daily wagers were paid
around Rs 10,000 for two years from 2007-2009 but the bench
after inspecting the files found that huge amounts were being
paid to the contractors while the workers were exploited below
subsistence level.
PTI
