Jamshedpur, Feb 3: Jharkhand High Court today ordered that the Tata Workers Union (TWU) election should be held within next six weeks.
High Court hearing on the petition filed by East Singhbhum District Commissioner Dr. Amitabh Kaushal gave the order. It ordered the East Singhbhum district administration to supervise the Tata Workers Union elections. High Court also asked the District Commissioner to start preparations for the polls in the next two weeks and appoint returning officer.
Union sources said, �As per the order, the deputy commissioner (DC) will ensure free and fair polls under its supervision�. In case of any controversy or dispute regarding union election rules, the DC should resolve the matter on his own initiative as per the court order, sources said.
Commenting on the decision, President of TWU PN Singh expressed joy over the decision and welcomed it. Singh said that HC order was as per his expectations and we had already made up our mind for a fresh election of the union under the supervision of the DC. �We have full faith in district administration and hope it holds the election with full transparency.
General Secretary of Tata Workers Union, BK Dinda speaking after the court order said that said he would comment only after getting a copy of the court order in this regard and hope the administration holds free and fair election.
The predecessor of PN Singh, Raghunath Pandey, President of Jusco Shramik Union welcomed the high court decision and celebrated the occasion by garlanding the statue of former TWU president VG Gopal at TWU office on Tuesday evening.
It may be noted that earlier LD1 committee member Dharmendra Upadhyay had filed a petition in Jharkhand High Court which had ordered the district administration in October last year to hold election within 60 days. But the election couldn�t be held as Tata Workers Union didn�t have any election rule and DC was forced to file a petition in the High Court seeking guidance.
Controversy arose in the union after PN Singh, former Tata Workers Union president, retired from Tata Steel on 30th September. The opposition faction led by union general secretary BK Dinda had demanded re-election for the post vacated by PN Singh who had expected service extension before retirement.
In the event of his retirement, PN Singh could not continue to hold the union president�s post, Dinda faction leaders said. After PN Singh�s retirement, both ruling and opposition factions seem ready for fresh elections while waiting for the HC order.