The State Government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prohibit strikes by the veterinary doctors, Livestock Inspectors, Paravets, other Class-III and Class-IV employees etc. including contractual employees for six months.

“The State Government is satisfied that in the interest of public, it is necessary to prohibit strikes in the form of cessation of work or unauthorized absence from duty by the veterinary doctors, livestock inspectors, paravets, other Class-III and Class-IV employees etc. including contractual employees in services/ engagements connected with maintenance of veterinary and animal husbandry services in Government Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries in the State,” State Home Department said in a notification.

The order will remain in force for a period of six months with effect from April 12.

The ESMA was enforced so that veterinary service and animal husbandry delivery systems in the State are not affected/disrupted, it said.

The order will be applicable for all staff working in the District Veterinary Hospitals, Sub-Divisional Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Dispensaries, Mobile Veterinary Units, Livestock Aid Centers, Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, Government Livestock and Fodder Farms, Frozen Semen Banks, Biological Product Institutes and all other institutions under the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services receiving funds from the State Government.

Now, the veterinary staff cannot go on a strike which means the cessation of work by a body of persons employed/ engaged in any essential service acting in combination or a concerted refusal or a refusal under a common understanding of any number of persons who are or have been so employed/ engaged to continue to work or to accept employment and includes unauthorised absence from duty.