Regularization of contract employees our idea: BJP

NEW DELHI: After chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced his plan to regularize all contract employees, BJP leaders in municipal corporations say they have been seeking this step for many years. Only the state government has the powers to clear the proposal to regularize staff in municipal corporations.

"Corporations do not have the power to recruit employees of groups B and C. It vests with Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board," Subhash Arya, leader of the house, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, said.

On behalf of all the three corporations, Arya has countered the statement given by Kejriwal. "Contractual employees are given cash payment of Rs 4,000 but they are made to sign against a payment of Rs 12,000," he said.

Salaries of groups B and C are transferred through Electronic Clearing Service. The corporation has been demanding regularization those employed on a contractual basis for many years, he added. "Since we do not have the power to regularize such employees, we are dependent on Delhi government for it," he said.

Arya demanded from Delhi government that contractual employees of all three corporations be regularized with immediate effect or civic bodies be given the powers to do so by making necessary amendments.

"A proposal to amend DMC Act 1957 to regularize contractual Group D staff was also sent to Delhi government but till now no action has been taken on the matter. The corporations are dependent on contractual employees such as doctors, teachers and junior engineers for various services and demands to regularize these employees with immediate effect or empower civic bodies to do so have been made from time to time," Arya added.