Despite SC, DoT goes ahead with plan for telecom officers

The Supreme Court's refusal to vacate a stay on implementing the contingency plan notwithstanding, the government today issued orders withdrawing over 1,000 Group-A telecom officers from MTNL and BSNL, a move that could affect the services badly.

According to Indian Telecom Services Association (ITSA) President S S Sirohi, "DoT's order is illegal and ambiguous. It cannot hold court of law. It (the order) is trying to circumvent the court order in an indirect manner."

Last week, the DoT had filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court seeking vacation of the stay, given by Uttaranchal and Gauhati high courts and several Central Administrative Tribunals, which was dismissed by the division bench.

The Supreme Court had asked DoT to go back to state high courts, while asking the high courts to decide on the matter within four weeks.

According to DoT, over 1,000 Group-A cadre-based telecom officers, working on deemed deputation in MTNL and BSNL are not covered under various court order and thus should report to their parent department DoT.

The last date for calling option to get absorbed either in MTNL, BSNL or government service was October 10, 2005, DoT said in the order, adding that "several officers have given their options for BSNL/MTNL or for government service."

In view of special circumstances prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir, the above order of reverting back to government will not apply to the group-a officers of the J&K circle.