Protest for jobs

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, JULY 13: The KHNAM has decided to file a writ petition before the Meghalaya High Court for its intervention into the alleged failure of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to appoint over 400 successful candidates for the jugali post.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a sit-in-demonstration staged by the aggrieved qualified jugalis here on Thursday, KHNAM-state youth wing president Thomas Passah said, “We are preparing to file the writ petition against the MeECL tomorrow after undue delay in the appointment of the jugalis.”

It may be mentioned here that the MeECL had declared as many as 772 successful candidates for the Jugali posts, which were advertised way back in 2011, in August last year after series of agitations. The MeECL also agreed to complete the process of appointment in phase manner.

Of these, only 290 jugalis were appointed under first phase so far. However, the rest 482 candidates under the second and third phase are yet to be appointed till date, despite of the fact that the validity period of the merit list is bound to expire on August 2, this year.

Earlier on the delay of issuing the appointment letter to the candidates, the MeECL had cited the reasons due to late issuing of police verification which is required to be produced by candidates before appointment besides financial related problem.

Today was the 15^th time that the qualified jugalis backed by the KHNAM youth wing had launched the protest to pressurize the power department and the MeECL to comply with the demand.

“We are demanding that all the deserving candidates should be appointed within two weeks before the validity period of the merit list expire,” Passah said.

Asked, he said that the sit-in-demonstration will continue till tomorrow in which jugalis from across the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills region of the state will be attending.

“We will finally adopt a strong resolution on the matter,” Passah said while informing they may be compelled to launch an indefinite hunger strike at the MeECL office till the demand is met.