Shimla
In a major move to prevent disruption of waste collection services in the state capital, the Shimla district administration on Thursday invoked the Himachal Pradesh Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1973, prohibiting sanitation workers associated with the SEHB Society from going on strike.
The order, issued by District Magistrate Anupam Kashyap on May 14, came after the Municipal Corporation Shimla informed the administration that workers of the SEHB Society Welfare Workers Union had announced an indefinite strike from May 15.
According to the order, the SEHB Society has been handling door-to-door garbage collection, lifting and disposal across Shimla city since 2010. The administration warned that any halt in sanitation services could lead to massive garbage accumulation, posing a serious threat to public health, hygiene and environmental safety, especially during the ongoing tourist season.
The district administration stated that sanitation services fall under the ambit of essential services and any disruption could severely affect residents as well as tourists in the densely populated hill city.
Exercising powers under Section 4 of the Himachal Pradesh Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, the District Magistrate prohibited any form of agitation or strike by SEHB employees with immediate effect. The order also directed workers not to disobey lawful instructions issued during the course of employment or abandon duties without reasonable cause.
The administration warned that employees violating the order would face legal action under the provisions of the Act. The directive will remain in force until further orders.
The development comes amid growing unrest among sanitation workers over their pending demands, though officials have maintained that uninterrupted waste management remains crucial for the city’s functioning and public health infrastructure.
