TS Govt to appeal in Apex Court against SCCL HC Verdict

KCR has decided here to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Hyderabad High Court verdict setting aside the State government’s notification pertaining to appointment of family members of employees of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) under the “dependent Jobs” category.

Asserting that the State government would wage a legal battle to ensure justice for dependents of SCCL employees, the Chief Minister said it was decided to give dependent jobs to families keeping in view the hard work and difficulties that workers and employees go through. “It was a step aimed at helping the family members of the workers. However, some vested interests have approached the Court with malicious intention,” he said.

A two judge bench comprising Justice V Ramasubramanian and Justice Uma Devi had earlier in the day faulted as unconstitutional the dependents jobs scheme stating that it offended Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution, besides finding it “gender insensitive.”

Against this backdrop, the Chief Minister called for a review meeting in Pragathi Bhavan with Advocate General Ramakrishna Reddy, SCCL CMD Sridhar, Nizamabad MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha who is also honorary president, Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS), Chief Advisor to government Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary S P Singh and other senior officials to discuss the issue.

The decision to appeal was taken after Rao held a detailed discussion with the Advocate General, SCCL officials and other senior officials.

Stating that Singareni employees were literally lighting up the nation through hard work in harsh conditions, the Chief Minister said the appeal will be filed in the Apex Court at the earliest to fight for the cause of Singareni workers. A team of senior legal counsels with specialization in Labour laws would be engaged for the purpose, he said, adding that the legal fight was to ensure implementation of the firm decision taken by the government to stand by the workers who have worked hard throughout their lives.

Meanwhile, in a spontaneous reaction spread across several districts, enraged coal mine workers and TBGKS activists burnt effigies of TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy, TJAC chairman Kodandaram and BJP leaders as news of the HC order spread. TBGKS leaders termed the day as a dark day in the history of the SCCL, and alleged that both Uttam Kumar Reddy and Kodandaram were behaving like Andhra leaders.