JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES AGITATED OVER PENDING PROMOTIONS

JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES AGITATED OVER PENDING PROMOTIONS

14-DEC-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR-------------------------Deep resentment has spread among judicial employees of the state's subordinate courts over fundamental rights such as promotions, pay scales, and designation changes. Despite the Supreme Court's directives and the state government's 2008 notification, the service-related files of judicial employees have been gathering dust for the past two decades. This is rapidly increasing feelings of frustration, dissatisfaction, and betrayal among the employees.

Deep resentment has spread among judicial employees of the state's subordinate courts over fundamental rights such as promotions, pay scales, and designation changes. Despite the Supreme Court's directives and the state government's 2008 notification, the service-related files of judicial employees have been gathering dust for the past two decades. This is rapidly increasing feelings of frustration, dissatisfaction, and betrayal among the employees. In a state-level virtual meeting of the Bihar State Civil Court Employees' Association, office bearers and district units unanimously stated that the Patna High Court had assured them during the January 2025 agitation that a decision on promotions and pay anomalies would be taken within a month, but even after a year, no concrete steps have been taken.

The association's president, Rajeshwar Tiwari, said that employees of almost all departments of the Bihar government have received timely promotions, but court employees are still retiring after serving their entire careers in their original entry-level positions. This is not justice, but injustice. Office bearers also alleged that while officers are punished for delaying promotions in other departments, the case of employees of subordinate courts has been languishing in limbo for years. The committee formed during the strike also proved to be ineffective. Neither the pay anomalies were resolved, nor were promotions granted, nor were compassionate appointments made, nor was any decision taken on the pending designation changes.

Several members at the meeting sarcastically remarked that they, as court employees, are being crushed between the two millstones of the High Court and the state government. The state government says the matter is within the High Court's discretion, while the High Court believes the decision should be made by the government. The employees stated that this "passing the buck" game is a direct attack on their future. Some officials expressed their anger, even suggesting that if their demands are not heard, they should consider drastic measures such as halting remand work on holidays, to directly impact the government's law and order situation.

However, the final decision on this will be taken at the general assembly to be held in Patna on December 26, where court employees from across the state will gather.  The meeting also decided that they would request the माननीय Supreme Court to take cognizance again of the issue of action against the guilty officers and the contempt of court regarding the Supreme Court's order (pending since 2009). The judicial employees say that their patience has run out, and if a concrete solution is not found this time, the movement will become even more widespread and intense.