Barge slams Beed ST division seniority list, warns of indefinite fast from October 15

Shrirang Barge has alleged that the circulars of the State Transport (ST) Corporation were wrongly interpreted while preparing the seniority list of employees in the corporation's Beed division. He said that if local officials cannot understand the circulars properly, they should explain what they draw their salaries for. He put the question to the local administration.

Barge was on a visit to Beed district today. He went to the ST divisional office and heard the problems of employees. Office-bearers present included the organisation's vice-president Vasant Borade, regional secretary Balaji Dhepe, Beed divisional president Ashok Mahanor, working president Shesherao Nagargoje, divisional secretary Ishwar Malwale, treasurer Bhagwan Garje, Shrikrishna Yewale, Rajkumar Andhale, Balkrishna Pentule, Ulhas Bhad and Sambhaji Ghadge.

The corporation has so far issued three separate circulars on seniority for officers and employees, and they contain clear instructions. Even so, some divisions in the state are acting on these circulars after misreading them. According to Barge, the Beed division has taken the same path. There are irregularities in the seniority list, and employees are angry because the circular has not been properly implemented.

Barge said that despite the clear instructions in the circular, the Beed division administration keeps seeking guidance on the matter from the ST head office in Mumbai. He said the officials had crossed all limits of incompetence. He called it unfortunate and said that if the circulars are not understood, it is a failure of the local administration.

According to him, some other divisions in the state are in the same condition. For this reason, employees have gone to court over seniority lists. Demanding that clear instructions be issued again so that everyone gets equal justice, the organisation met State Transport Minister and ST Corporation chairman Pratap Sarnaik last week and submitted a detailed memorandum. Barge said Sarnaik too has given instructions on properly implementing the seniority circular.

The ST Corporation has 31 divisions in the state. According to Barge, the method of deciding seniority is the same in all divisions. He also alleged that the Beed division misinterpreted the head office circular, which led to irregularities in the seniority lists.

Barge has also warned that if the circulars on the seniority list are not properly implemented in the Beed division before next Thursday, the local employees who have suffered injustice will go on an indefinite fast from October 15 in front of the ST divisional office in Beed. He said the local administration would be responsible for this.