He has knocked all the doors by running from pillar to post to get his 21-year-long job permanent, but all in vain. Even High Court and Tribunal orders have failed to render him justice. As a result, he’s struggling hard to meet both ends meet, feed his five-member family and buy medicines for his ailing wife.
Bijay Kumar Jena, a resident of Sahupada village had joined as DlR driver with the leprosy Society at Kendrapada on June 29, 1992. later, when a driver’s post fell vacant in 2003, he filed a petition before the court urging to direct the CDMO to give him priority as he has been serving the department for so many years. The court order also went in his favour, but to no avail.
Again, he applied for the vacant regular driver’s post at Kendrapada District Headquarters Hospital in 2004, but the then CDMO, blatantly ignoring his candidature, appointed a Grade IV employee Sankarshan Das allegedly by taking monetary gratification from him.
When Jena knocked the door of the Chief Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare alleging injustice meted out to him, the Commissioner directed the CDMO to cancel the posting of Das and appoint Jena in his place. As a sresult, the CDMO cancelled the appointment of Das and deposited the money drawn by him as salary for three months in the treasury.
But this happiness was short lived for Jena, as once the Commissioner got shifted, the CDMO reappointed Das and suspended him from the service.
Once again, he moved the High Court which reinstated him in the job. From April 1, 2005, Jena has been working as driver on contractual basis.
Bijay Jena’s wife Jayanti Jena said, “Although the other drivers who were working in the leprosy Society managed to get regular jobs in the department, her husband failed to get due to the callous attitude of some senior officials.”
“Also in August 2013, the State Tribunal directed the CDMO that when any advertisement against any regular vacancy will be issued inviting applications from intending candidates, I shall be at liberty to apply and upper age limit will be relaxed for me considering the period of service already rendered by me,” Bijay Jena said.
“Even though I have possessed orders in my favour from the HC and Tribunal and there are nearly three drivers’ posts are laying vacant, the authorities are not taking any steps in my favour,” he further alleged.
He is now struggling to eke out a living and maintain his family as he is not getting any salary since March 2013. “I have failed to provide proper treatment to my ailing wife and to bear the expenses of my children’s studies,” said hapless Jena.
Meanwhile, the family members of Jena have threatened to self-immolate themselves at the office of the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Family Welfare if the department fails to provide his arrear salary and take necessary steps for appointing him as a regular driver soon.
Contacted, Manoj Behera, the CDMO in-charge of Kendrapada, said, “As the recruitment to regular driver’s post has been stopped by the State Government, Jena has failed to get his job. Whenever the appointment process resumes, Jena would be given first priority.” “I am also taking steps to clear the pending salary of Bijay Jena,” he added.