Telecom unions against corporatisation of DoT

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 13. The strike notice by the employees of the Department of Telecom (DoT) and the Department of Telecom Services (DTS) to the Government comes three days after the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, approved the free telephone package of the Communications Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan. A one-day nationwide strike has been called on June 28.

The clearance of Mr. Paswan's package had one issue from the Government's standpoint - a firm commitment for launching a corporate entity called Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited on October 1 in the form of a corporatised DoT. For this, a clause had been incorporated in the negotiated package with the federation of telecom employees that they would cooperate with the Government in the corporatisation process.

Today, a joint action committee of associations and unions of Indian telecom sector, wrote to the Secretary DoT and Secretary DTS that they are opposed to corporatisation. The letter states that ``on behalf of the officers, workers and employees of DoT and DTS, we intimate you that your proposal of corporatisation of DTS and consequent disinvestment of MTNL and DTS are not acceptable to us, on account of dangers involved in providing service to all sections of consumers and welfare of the officers, workers and employees. We shall be on one-day nation- wide strike on Wednesday, June 28, 2000.''.

The unions came out strongly against limiting of the 1999-2000 bonus to 70 days' wages as a package deal for granting free telephone facilities. According to the unions, free telephones to all Group C and D employees was only an end to the discrimination to the lower ranks since the Group A and B employees were already enjoying the facility.

Meanwhile, the Indian Telecom Service Association and the Telecom Engineering Officers Association have decided to renew their agitation for the removal of the Secretary DTS, Mr. Vinod Vaish, and the Chairman of Telecom Commission, Mr. Shymal Ghosh, who belong to the IAS cadre and seek their replacement by ITS officers. They decided to work to rule from tomorrow.

HC admits writ against free phones

KOCHI, JUNE 13. The Kerala High Court on Friday admitted a writ petition challenging the Union Government's decision to grant free telephones to the employees of the Department of Telecom(DoT) and Department of Telecom Services(DTS). Mr. Justice K.A. Abdul Gafoor, while admitting the writ, issued notice to the Union Government and the Cabinet Secretary. The petition was filed by Mr. Babu Joseph of Kochi. The petitioner said that there had been no provision in the Constitution which enabled the Centre to confer such a privilege. In fact, without a supporting and enabling provision, privileges like free telephone bonanza could not be granted. He contended that the Supreme Court had held that privileges or largesse or concessions could not be conferred arbitrarily and could be granted only in strict conformity with Article 14 (equality before law). The impugned decision of the Central Government went against the well settled legal positions of the Supreme Court.

It had also been pointed out that at a time when bridges, roads, which were essential for the progress of the nation were not being constructed because of paucity of funds, the grant of such free phones could be described as a decision taken with mala fide intention and extraneous considerations. India could not afford to waste its scarce resources for wooing voters or employees.

The petitioner also said that the classification between the beneficiaries of the largesse/concession and others was unreasonable and had no nexus with the object sought to be made. In fact, the public fund should be used for the benefit of the society and not at the discretion of a Minister or Ministers. The petition sought quashing of the decision/ order granting free telephones to the employees of telecom department.

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