Maxworldnews Desk: In response to requests for ‘pen-down strikes’ from revenue authorities and workers at deputy commissioners’ offices, the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and ordered a strike ban for all employees in order to deal with the state’s post-flood situation.
The ESMA is particularly imposed on revenue authorities and workers, including Patwaries, Kanugoes, Circle Revenue officers, and other employees posted in all districts of Punjab, who have announced an indefinite strike beginning September 1 and a pen-down strike beginning September 11-13.
The Bhagwant Mann-led government used ESMA to threaten revenue and deputy commissioners’ employees with harsh and punitive punishment if the strike continued.
The ESMA requires all tax officers and deputy commissioner office workers to remain in their current positions and designations until October 31 or until additional orders are issued. Violations of the ESMA orders would result in significant statutory fines.
According to the official order, “due to continuous rainfall and the release of water from the Bhakhra, Ranjit Sagar, and Pong dams, almost all districts in the state of Punjab are facing floods, and immediate disbursement of relief material is required for those flood-affected population.” To that end, cutting-edge officials such as Patwaries, Kanugoes, Circle Revenue officers, and other officers and officials in Deputy Commissioner offices have been assigned to duty. As such, their services are required around every hour, both in the field and in their respective offices, to ensure proper maintenance of essential supplies of relief materials, disbursement of crop compensation to farmers and others to the flood-affected population, and maintenance of public order throughout the State of Punjab.”
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 4 of the East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1947 (Punjab Act No. 13 of 1947), the State Government hereby directs all Revenue officials/ officers, including Patwaries, Kanugoes, Circle Revenue officers, and other Deputy Commissioner Office employees posted in all districts of Punjab that they shall not leave their place of posting OR their arrears.” Any violation of this order will result in severe penalties under the aforementioned Act.”
Meanwhile, Bhagwant Mann issued a warning to Patwaries, Kanugoes, and DC office workers via his X profile (old Twitter). “I want to tell you to strike pen, but the government will decide whether to give the pen to a few hands or not,” he wrote. We have a large number of educated unemployed persons who are eager to accept your pen. Punjabis will not be permitted to suffer.”(According to the translation of CM Mann’s tweet)
ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਪਟਵਾਰੀ..ਕਾਨੂੰਨਗੋ..ਕਿਸੇ ਰਿਸ਼ਵਤ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਚ ਫਸੇ ਅਪਣੇ ਇੱਕ ਸਾਥੀ ਦੇ ਹੱਕ ਚ..ਅਤੇ ਡੀਸੀ ਦਫ਼ਤਰ ਕਰਮਚਾਰੀ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਚ ਕਲਮ ਛੋੜ੍ਹ ਹੜਤਾਲ ਕਰਨਗੇ..ਮੈਂ ਦੱਸਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਕਲਮ ਛੋੜ੍ਹ ਹੜਤਾਲ ਕਰੋ ਪਰ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਲਮ ਥੋਡੇ ਹੱਥਾਂ ਚ ਦੇਣੀ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਇਹ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ…
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) August 30, 2023
What exactly is ESMA?
The Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) is a statutory framework in place to maintain the seamless operation of key services during times of unrest or strikes that could impair critical services and harm public interest. It gives the government special authorities to prevent disruptions in essential services and can be utilised to prohibit striking workers from refusing to work in certain important services required to sustain the country’s regular way of life.
