Assam: ASTC Buses Won't Run From Tomorrow

GUWAHATI: Beginning on June 1, Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) buses will cease operating on the highways in what appears to be a statewide protest. Every bus station in Assam has received a strike announcement from ASTC staff, according to information obtained.

In view of the decision to discharge 771 employees from their duties for allegedly obtaining employment through unfair means, ASTC made this judgement. Today, news broke that ASTC planned to fire up to 771 illegally hired workers from their positions.

Sources said that during the time of Anand Prakash Tiwari and Khagendra Nath Chetia as Managing Directors, 2,274 workers were hired without following the proper procedure.

“In respect of the engagement of contractual staff, it has been alleged that the entire 2274 staff were recruited without following the due procedure or following the system of reservation nor any interviews were held. The same is to be enquired into and if found to be true, Show Cause notice to be issued to the then MD, ASTC for flouting the government norms and initiate Departmental Proceeding against such government,” a notice reads.

“Accordingly, after inquiry and on assessment Transport department will go through the present contractual staff of ASTC and appropriate direction will be issued to keep only essential and legally appointed contractual staff and other staff to be released immediately thereafter. This exercise is to be completed within 60 days,” it added.

On Wednesday afternoon, a tense situation broke out at the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) office in Guwahati's Paltanbazar neighbourhood as a result of the decision to fire numerous employees.

According to reports, a number of the affected employees gathered at the ASTC office in Paltanbazar and questioned the general secretary of the State Transport Employees Union about their sudden discharge from their jobs.

The enraged employees demanded that the decision to terminate them be overturned immediately, which made the situation worse.

The Raijor Dal party, led by Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, voiced on Tuesday that Banias would soon receive the lands owned by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC).

They said, “Soon lands belonging to the ASTC will be handed over to Banias. As many as 771 employees of the transport department will lose their jobs on June 1. The Paltan Bazar ASTC office had been set up in 1950. And now, the ASTC office has been handed over to the Railways.”

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