Telangana Assembly Passes TSRTC Merger Bill After Governor Soundararajan's Approval
The assembly unanimously approved the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill 2023, which had been introduced by Minister P. Ajay Kumar.
The Telangana Assembly passed a bill on Sunday to absorb over 43,000 employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) into government service. The assembly unanimously approved the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (Absorption of Employees into Government Service) Bill 2023, which had been introduced by Transport Minister P. Ajay Kumar. This came soon after Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan granted her approval for the bill's introduction, ending the uncertainty that had prevailed for the past three days. The bill assures that the assets of TSRTC will remain with the Corporation, the employees' dues will be paid, and the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) recommendations will apply to all TSRTC employees.
The Governor's approval came after discussions with officials from the transport and roads and buildings departments. In addition to her approval, the Governor made ten recommendations to the state government.
She recommended that the ownership of the lands, assets, and properties of TSRTC should vest with the Corporation itself for its sole and exclusive use, even after the absorption of RTC staff as government employees.
She recommended that the assets be finally divided, and the process completed between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh pursuant to the AP Reorganization Act.
The Governor also recommended the government clarify and assume the liability of clearing the arrears from the erstwhile APSRTC.
“It is recommended that the emoluments of the RTC employees, once absorbed as government employees, be on the same scale as other state government employees, following pay scales, service rules, and regulations vis-a-vis salary, transfers, promotions, retirement pensions, or provident funds, and other gratuities,” she stated.
She also recommended that the already-absorbed TSRTC employees should have the feasibility and facility to request 'compassionate appointment' for family members on medical grounds if the employee becomes unfit for service owing to the extreme stress and physical strain of work with the RTC.
“Disciplinary proceedings within the RTC are extremely stringent. Therefore, it is recommended that the disciplinary proceedings be more humane and in tandem with the same service rules and regulations as the remaining government employees and the relevant service rules,” the Governor noted.
If the absorbed RTC employees are sent on deputation to other departments, it is recommended that their grade, pay, salary, and promotions, etc., be protected for their benefit to ensure no disturbance vis-a-vis their elevations and promotions,” she added.
The Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, thanked the Governor for approving the bill's introduction and clarified that the government's intention was to strengthen TSRTC's infrastructure and improve the public transport system, rather than acquiring the lands and assets of TSRTC.
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