KSRTC recalls staff on long leave

Thiruvananthapuram: The KSRTC has recalled all employees on long leave, including those who are on medical leave, in view of the sacking of empanelled conductors following the High Court order.

There are nearly 800 conductors on long leave. They have been asked to join duty immediately. The KSRTC management has already taken the details of such conductors from all depots.

The decision has drawn flak as those who were on medical leave and women on maternity leave have been asked to join duty.

As many as 998 services were disrupted on Friday due to the shortage of conductors. These included 164 in Kozhikode, 350 in Thiruvananthapuram and 484 in Ernakulam regions. Of them, 402 services were disrupted in the first shift itself.

Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran told reporters that it would take one or two days more to tide over the present situation. Till then, around 1,000 services will be disrupted daily. Normalcy would be restored after all newly-posted conductors joined duty, said Mr Saseendran.

Though KSRTC has taken steps to appoint conductors from the PSC list, they would take time to join duty as many are posted at far-off places.

Of the 1,472 of the 4,051, who have been advised by the Public Service Comm-ission, joined the KSRTC on Thursday. A total of 500, who received the advice memo, have asked the KSRTC management 45 days’ time to join duty as they are working in other states. Around 1,400 women have received the PSC advice. 

The first appointment will be as reserve conductor on daily wage at the rate of 1/26 of the minimum of their basic pay from Rs 9,940  to Rs 21,180 in the lowest grade of conductor.