Punjab, Haryana employees warn of protest against deputation tenure in UT

The Punjab and Haryana Employees Union (Deputationist) and the Joint Teachers Association have issued a strong warning to the Chandigarh Administration of a large-scale protest if the proposed tenure limit for deputationists from Punjab and Haryana is implemented.

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Union president Ranbir Jhorar, along with Joint Teachers Association legal adviser Arvind Rana, general secretary Ajay Sharma, and co-conveners Sangeeta Rani and Dharam Singh, asserted that employees from Punjab and Haryana were not bound by any tenure restrictions under existing service rules.

Citing a 1982 letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and service regulations of Punjab and Haryana, Jhorar explained that employees on deputation in Chandigarh do not receive deputation allowances, making their case distinct from regular deputations.

In response, both Punjab and Haryana had amended their civil service rules, ensuring that employees posted in Chandigarh under deputation would not be eligible for deputation benefits.

They also argued that, as per Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) exemptions, employees who voluntarily apply for postings in Chandigarh through open recruitment cannot be considered deputationists. Jhorar further stated that imposing a tenure clause would discourage employees from opting for Chandigarh postings due to unnecessary financial and service-related complications.

Rana accused the Administration of misrepresenting the Centre’s directives. He claimed that in 2024, the administration had sought the Centre’s opinion on the issue, after which the Centre instructed them to implement the DOPT guidelines from 2022. However, Rana alleged that the Administration was now distorting the Centre’s directive, violating official instructions.

Union leaders demanded an urgent meeting with UT officials within seven days to resolve the matter. Univion leaders said, “If our concerns are ignored by the authorities, we have decided to launch a large-scale protest with the support of leaders of the Punjab and Haryana governments.”