Hill union denies Rs 25,000 demand

A rally by the Sangathan to demand the regularisation of jobs. File picture

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, May 27: The Janmukti Asthai Karmachari Sangathan today admitted that the organisation would be collecting financial contributions from its 5,800-odd members to cover legal expenses incurred for fighting a successful legal case in the Calcutta High Court recently but denied that it was demanding Rs 25,000 from each person.

The Calcutta High Court had on May 14 directed the state government to convene a meeting with representatives of the GTA in four months to decide how it would set in motion the process of absorbing over 5,800 casual employees into the hill body in permanent posts.

A number of contractual workers had told The Telegraph that word was being spread by Sangathan members that they should keep Rs 25,000 ready.

"I was told to make arrangement for Rs 25,000 to ensure that my job is regularised following the recent high court order. However, none of us have paid. We had also not received anything in writing from the organisation," a worried casual employee had complained.

Asked about the allegation, Machendra Subba, the president of the Sangathan, said: "I, too, have been hearing about it but we would like to clarify that the Sangathan has not fixed any amount. Some expenses have been incurred in fighting the case and we have told our members that they will have to contribute some amount. We have, however, not worked out total expenses that have been incurred or how much a member will have to pay. The figure of Rs 25,000 per member is not true."

Subba said the organisation would work out the amount per member within the "next few days".

The Sangathan is an affiliate of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Justice Sanjib Banerjee had issued the directive on a petition filed by the Sangathan. Since 2007, when the Morcha was formed, the Sangathan had been demanding regularisation of jobs.

Soon after The Telegraph had sought a clarification from Subba today, the Sangathan called a press conference in Darjeeling to reiterate its stand.

The press conference at the Darjeeling Press Guild Office was addressed by Deepak Sharma, the spokesman for the Sangathan, and secretary Kishan Gurung.

Most of the 5,800-plus casual employees who are currently working with the GTA were recruited by the now defunct Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council on a six-month contract.