Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 3: Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation Workers Union (SRTCWU) has demanded immediate revocation of order issued by CAPD on December 9 last year by January 9 this year regarding hireing of trucks from open market for carrying CAPD ration.
Talking to reporters here, today the Union chairman Wajahat Hussian along with other office bearers warned that in case the Government failed to do so, the SRTC Cargo Fleet of the State will observe two days complete strike on January 9 and 10.
He said however the bus services of JKSRTC will be exempted from the purview of strike. Besides, the protest demonstration will also be held throughout the State on both the days, he added.
Challenging the order Hussain said that Union can’t remain the mute spectator on this sensitive issue as on April 6, 2001 the Government had issued SRO 157 after the Cabinet decision.
He said under the said SRO it was made obligatory for the State Government/ undertakings to utilize the services of JKSRTC truck fleet and also obtain the NOCs from SRTC before hiring the trucks from open market.
He said however the civil operators in connivance with some officers of CAPD and Finance Department misled the State Cabinet which surprisingly took a decision on December 9 last year to hire private trucks for carrying CAPD food grains in open violation of SRO 157.
He said in contrary the Cabinet issued order number 200-FCS &CA of 2016 on December 14 last year for calling tenders from open market despite the fact that the rates fixed by the High Powered Committee in this regard earlier are still in force.
He said this was just done by some officers with active support from concerned Ministry to benefit their blue eyed private transporters.
He said the Union leaders in this connection have met the Finance Minister twice and also apprised the matter to Chief Minister with the request to declare the exercise of CAPD Ministry null and void and in case the Government fails to do the needful the Union is constrained to go on strike as SRTC has already suffered heavy loss due to 25 year long turmoil in the State.