KOZHIKODE: It has been 28 years since Kozhikode native Suresh Kumar E. is waiting for the job he deserved in the Indian Railways. Despite a ruling from Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) 22 years ago and a recent State Human Rights Commi-ssion direction in favour of Suresh Kumar, his legal battle with the Railways has not yet ended. Suresh Kumar was a casual labourer in Hassan under the then Southern Railways Mysore Division (at present South West Railways) for two terms between 1978-1980 and from 1980-1981 for a period of 962 days. In 1987, the Supreme Court in Inderpaul Yadav’s case ordered that retrenched casual labourers are entitled to re-engage provided they comply with certain criteria including service period and number of days worked. According to Suresh Kumar, he has completed 962 working days as labourer and thus complied with the Railways’ terms for absorption.
“I am eligible to get absorbed with effect from 1990. However, even those who are junior to me were appointed by the Railways. They haven’t done the same in my casem but withheld the decision even after 28 years,” alleged Suresh Kumar. In a letter by the then General Manager Raj J. Shukla in 1994, it was confirmed that my name is in the supplementary live register and I would be considered for employment when my turn comes,” he added.
In 1995, he approached the CAT who directed to include his name in the Labour Live Register and if any person junior to him is already re-engaged, Suresh Kumar in entitled to reengage within three months from the issue of order. After exchange of a series of letters, in 2015 the Railways rejected his claim since the age limit of 40 has crossed in 2000. “The CAT order came when I was 37 years and after delaying absorption, they are now saying I have crossed my age,” he added. In 2015, he approached State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) who directed him to approach CAT to execute the order in favour of him. Suresh Kumar has approached the CAT again and is awaiting its final order to end his nearly three decade long wait. He has also given petition to Railway Board chairman through Kozhikode MP M K. Raghavan.
