Punjab 'patwaris' on strike in revenue circles where they have 'additional' responsibilities

Punjab revenue officials on Friday went on an indefinite strike in revenue circles where they have been given ''additional'' responsibilities.

A union leader representing the 'patwaris' (revenue officials) said they were not undertaking any work related to additional charges allocated to them in 3,193 revenue circles but were discharging their duties related to other circles, including that of flood relief.

Representatives of the state's revenue officers -- patwaris and kanungos -- had announced they will move the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the state government's decision to invoke the East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (EPESMA).

The revenue officers, under the banner of the Revenue Patwar Union, had called for the strike following the registration of a corruption case against a patwari and a kanungo in Sangrur district a week ago.

The patwaris claimed that before the registration of the case, approvals were not taken from the deputy commissioner and the financial commissioner.

''There are 3,193 Patwar (revenue) circles and 291 Kanunga circles observing the strike. The government is paying us for the work of 1,522 patwar circles and 412 Kanunga circles and we are doing that work,'' Revenue Patwar Union president Harvir Singh Dhindsa said on Friday.

He said the revenue officials were not working in the circles where they were given additional responsibilities. ''Our strike is indefinite. We are not going back on our decision, whether the government invokes EPESMA or any other provision,'' Dhindsa said.

Meanwhile, officials said the deputy commissioners have been asked to ensure that the public does not suffer due to the strike.

According to the union, there are 4,716 revenue circles in Punjab but only 1,523 patwaris. They undertake the work of the circle where they are posted and also in 3,193 additional circles.

Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, general secretary of Punjab's Revenue Patwar Union, said the appointment of new patwaris was also one of the demands of the union.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, through the chief secretary, directed the financial commissioner of revenue to invoke the provisions of the Act so that criminal proceedings could be launched against employees in case they went on a strike at a time when the state was grappling with floods.

In Ferozepur, all revenue officials belonging to 146 circles of the district joined tha indefinite strike. Union leader Jasbir Singh Saini said they were left with no choice but to go on strike.

''We understand the work is suffering and common people are bearing the brunt due to the strike but we have no other option. I request the government to fill the vacant posts and accept our other demands,'' he added.

Joginder Singh, resident of Machi Bugra village located around 15 km from the Ferozepur district headquarters, said he had come to the patwar office for some work but would have to go back.

''I had to spend around Rs 200 to reach and now I am going back empty-handed due to which I am disappointed,'' he added.

In Kapurthala too, the strike affected the working of the revenue department in the district.

Kapurthala circle patwar union president Amarbir Singh said there are 189 revenue circles in Kapurthala district but just 35 patwaris.

Former sarpanch of Mansoorwal village Harbans Singh Walia and progressive farmer Surinder Singh said they returned from the tehsil office because of the strike.

In Hoshiarpur, Manjit Singh Grewal, the general secretary of the Hoshiarpur District Revenue Patwar Union, said patwaris diligently performed their duties within their designated revenue circles. The work on additional circles has been halted, he said.

Flood-related work is going on as usual in all the revenue circles without any hindrance, Grewal added.

There are currently 77 permanent and 51 contractual patwaris working across five tehsils in Hoshiarpur district, against 437 sanctioned posts, the union leaders claimed.