Hyderabad: Section 144 CrPC imposed in wake of 'Bus Roko' call by TSRTC employees

In the wake of 'Bus Roko' call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the striking employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), Section 144 CrPC that prohibits an assembly of more than four people in an area, has been imposed in all TSRTC depots across Hyderabad for November 16.

Speaking to the media the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad Anjani Kumar said, "Hyderabad police have issued prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC, around 500 meters of each of the bus depot and at bus Bhawan. No gathering of more than 4 people will be permitted at these places. Many business activities and academic activities will be disturbed if such Bus Roko programmes are allowed. Any person violating this prohibitory order will be arrested."

READ | Shiv Sena To Get CM Post For 5 Years, Cabinet Portfolios Split Decided : Sources

Striking employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) have decided to temporarily drop their main demand for the Corporation's merger with the government. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the striking employees took the decision to keep aside the demand as the government showed no sign to soften its stand on the 41st day of the protest on Thursday. The employees have now asked the government to fulfill their other demands. The employees have been on a strike since October 5 with several demands including revision of pay. At least five RTC employees have committed suicide since the commencement of the strike.

READ | Setback For Shehla Rashid; Anticipatory Bail For Allegedly Defaming Army Denied

TSRTC Strike

Earlier, the Telangana Government expressed its unwillingness to go ahead with the High Court’s proposal of setting up a high-powered committee to look into the issues of TSRTC employees. The court offered the state government to constitute the committee with three retired Supreme Court judges to sort out the issue of TSRTC workers and asked Advocate General BS Prasad to respond to the suggestion. However, an affidavit on behalf of the government was filed expressing its unwillingness over the issue. 

More than 48,000 employees of the corporation have been on an indefinite strike since October 5, demanding merger of the TSRTC with the government transport department and pay revision among others. Meanwhile, the state Government has sacked 40,000 employees. 

READ | Air Pollution In Delhi-NCR: SC Summons Chief Secretaries Of Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi

READ | Chidambaram Denied Bail In ED's INX Media Case By Delhi HC; To Remain In Tihar Till Nov 27

(with ANI inputs)