SRINAGAR: The government on Friday said that the cases of regularisation of Safai Karamcharis working as casual labourers in different Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of Jammu and Kashmir will be examined by the Committee constituted for the regularisation of daily wagers.
Minister for Health, Sakeena Itoo, on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was responding to a question raised by Bharat Bhushan in the Legislative Assembly.
She informed the House that 7,353 Safai Karamcharis are currently working in various ULBs of JK. She noted that many of them have completed more than 10 to 15 years of service and work in permanent positions, while only a few Safai Karamcharis are employed as casual labourers.
The Minister said that the government has always followed a pro-labour policy within the ambit of the law. The policy of regularisation is under review in light of the Supreme Court judgment in State of Karnataka vs. Uma Devi, wherein the court ruled that any policy of regularisation through executive orders, statutory orders, or legislative enactments is in violation of Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution of India.
She added that various protective equipment, including PPE kits, gumboots, gloves, masks, and other necessary items, have been provided to sanitation workers under the NAMASTE scheme.
Legislators Balwant Singh Mankotia, Reyaz Ahmad Khan, and Mehraj Malik raised supplementary questions.
