Over 500 clerks to lose jobs

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

Nearly 500 clerks working in the Irrigation Department on a contractual or outsourcing basis face immediate termination following the announcement of the results for this post by the Haryana Staff Service Commission (HSSC).

The Engineer-in-Chief of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department has told the Superintending Engineers of all irrigation circles of the state to terminate the services of contractual and outsourced clerks immediately and send compliance.

The HSSC had, on March 14, released a list of 6,134 posts of clerks to be posted in various departments.

In his letter sent yesterday, the Engineer-in-Chief said a list of 455 newly selected clerks had been received by his office and appointment letters were being issued.

“You are directed to terminate the services of all clerks engaged through outsourcing or any other source with immediate effect to avoid any litigation at the later stage,” the letter said. The letter also warned that any laxity in this regard would be viewed seriously and disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the guilty.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Health Services has told civil surgeons and deputy civil surgeons across the state to come to work today and on Sunday, so that the clerks selected for different departments can get medical examination done.

Sources said the state government was wary that in case the newly selected clerks fail to join duties by Monday, some petitions against the selection process could be moved in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to jeopardise their appointment.

The vacancies for these posts were advertised by the HSSC in 2015, but the selection process was stayed for over 18 months due to several petitions. Several other recruitments, including 2,300 posts of drivers, also remained stayed for long.