GUWAHATI, July 25 � The State Government, in exercise of powers conferred by Sub-Clause (ii) of Clause (b) of Sub section (1) Section 2 of the Essential Services Maintenance (Assam) Act 1980 (ESMA), has declared the emergency response services which is running under �108 Mrityunjoy� and is being operated by GVK EMRI in Assam as �essential service� under the Act from July 25.
Section 3 of the Act prohibits any strike by any person involved in running �108 Mrityunjoy Ambulance� services.
�This is a proactive step on the part of Government and reiteration of its esteemed support for the operation. No undesirable element can instigate or prevent any employee in discharging duties and responsibilities in the mission of saving lives,� GVK EMRI sources said.
Upon the issue of this order under ESMA, no person employed in GVK EMRI shall go or remain on strike. �Strike means cessation of work by a body of persons employed in any essential service acting in combination or a concerted refusal or a refusal under a common understanding of any number of persons who are or who have been so employed to continue to work or to accept employment, and includes � (i)�refusal to work overtime where such work is necessary for the maintenance of any essential service; (ii)�any other conduct which is likely to result in, or results in, cessation or substantial retardation of work in any essential service.�
Any strike declared or commenced, whether before or after the issue of the order, by persons employed in shall be illegal. Participating in illegal strikes would also result in dismissal of employees besides imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to Rs 1,000, or with both.
