Lakshadweep administration has forcibly retired 47 employees under FR 56(j) in ‘public interest’. Employees who have completed 33 years of service or 56 years of age have been removed. They will get 3 months salary and pension benefits.
Kavaratti: Lakshadweep administration has fired 47 employees working in its different departments, that is, they have been forcibly retired. The administration has taken this big step using the special powers given under Fundamental Rule (FR) 56 (j). Official orders in this regard have been issued from the Secretariat Service Section of Kavaratti.
Those who have been laid off include 37 multi-tasking staff from different islands, 6 upper division clerks, 3 lower division clerks and a stenographer. This is the second time this year that the administration has fired so many employees at once.
According to reports, employees who have completed 33 years of service or have attained the age of 56 years have been included in this list. The administration officially says that this decision has been taken in ‘public interest’. For this, a special review committee was formed, which examined the service records of the employees and gave its recommendations.
In the order issued by Special Secretary Padmakar Ram Tripathi, it has been said that this decision will come into effect from the date of receipt of the order. However, the terminated employees will be given three months’ salary and allowances in lieu of the notice period. Apart from this, they will also be entitled to pension benefits under the existing rules. This sudden decision of the administration has created a lot of concern among the employees and common people of the island.