Both AP and Telangana are adamant about their stated positions
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Hyderabad: Deadlock over the allocation of employees of power utilities is likely to continue as both AP and Telangana are adamant about their stated positions and refuse to yield despite clear-cut directions from the Centre.
The Union ministry of home affairs has written a letter to both the governments a few days back asking them to maintain ‘status quo’ and not to take any unilateral decisions. It has also convened a meeting of energy secretaries and CMDs of power utilities on July 31, but it appears, nothing tangible will come about.
The issue started after Telangana government released controversial guidelines and forcibly relieved 1,243 staff having Seemandhra roots. It has also stopped payment of salaries to them. Crying foul, AP staff filed a petition in HC, met Central leaders and staged a dharna or two.
The MHA letter, sent by director, Ashutosh Jain has suggested to both the governments three options viz; (1) will they appoint a panel with mutually agreeable persons and conditions; (2) will they accept Shiela Bhide Committee to look into their bifurcation as it has been doing the same with regard to other PSUs and (3) will they follow the norms adopted by Kamalnathan Committee. Power utilities have been listed in Scheduled IX under the category of PSUs. AP has reportedly been in favour of the third option- Kamalnathan Committee to resolve the issue.
But TS will continue the same position saying since it has already issued guidelines strictly in accordance with Section 82 of AP Reorganisation Act, there is no need to go back on it. With no side willing to compromise, the Centre will have no other way but to knock on the doors of the apex court, an official of Telangana utility said.
“The panel has been doing the exercise excellently with regard to bifurcation of other government departments by seeking their options of employees, going by service records etc. The same can be applied for GENCO and TRANSCO staff as well. We will convey the same to Mr Goyal, MHA secretary” a top official of AP government told Deccan Chronicle.
But Telangana will continue the same position saying since it has already issued guidelines strictly in accordance with Section 82 of AP Reorganisation Act, there is no need to go back on it. The TEEJAC has also toughened its stand and also arranged a mass dharna on July 28 to protest against the attitude of the AP government.
With no side willing to compromise, the Centre will have no other way but to knock on the doors of the apex court, an official of Telangana utility said. The AP government has sounded the Centre that the issue has the potential to rock the other institutions listed in the Scheduled IX and X as well.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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