TDC terminates employees' services despite court order

Mumbai, Nov 4 (UNI) At least six contractual employees of the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) have alleged that the company terminated their services, despite a court order.

A cashier-cum-sales assistant of ITDC, Jaydeep Khadey said they were working with ITDC's Duty Free Shop (DFS) at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport since 1994.

After privatisation of the airport, ITDC chose not to continue running of the DFS. The ITDC, on October 17, terminated the services of six employees, by giving them one month's salary in lieu of the notice period.

Apprehending that they may lose job, 14 employees had gone to Industrial Court last year through their union, Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, after which the court, on October 31, last year restrained the ITDC from sacking any of the employees till the final hearing of the case.

According to Mr Khadey, other eight employees had meanwhile, resigned on their own. He alleged that after the issuance of the termination order, the employees were not allowed to enter the office. They had registered a complaint at Sahar Police Station regarding this. Also, employees were contemplating to file a 'contempt of court' case against the management, he added.

Meanwhile the ITDC, in its termination order clarified that the appointment of contractual employees was for the DFS and as the company had closed DFS establishment in December 2007, there was no work for these employees. The letter also said the management and the competent authority have gone through the court order and have decided to terminate the services of the employees after following the due course of law.

According to an ITDC communique, almost all permanent employees had taken VRS and other employees were relocated. The management clarified that the services of employees were continued from September 2007 to till date due to the court order. However, no 'contractual employment' existed in the case of employees after October 31, 2007, and hence their services were terminated.

Next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 15.

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