Centaur hotel employees hit streets, seek implementation of court orders
SRINAGAR: Employees of Centaur Lake View Hotel, which was taken over by the government recently, Monday staged a protest here alleging that the authorities instead of implementing court orders are adamant on ‘snatching’ their livelihood.
The protesting employees appealed to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha to issue an order directing the authorities to implement High Court orders instead of exerting pressure on them to quit jobs.
It may be in place to mention here the government has taken possession of Centaur Lake View Hotel at Boulevard Road here, which was leased out to Hotel Corporation of India (HCI) for 99 years, and sealed the building following violation of lease terms.
Holding placards in their hands reading “implement High Court orders and don’t snatch our livelihood”, dozens of the employees of Centaur Lake View Hotel including men and women, assembled at Press Enclave this afternoon and staged a protest to press for the implementation of High Court orders.
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir had last week directed the Centaur Hotel Employees Union (petitioner) to make a representation before the government and in the meantime directed the authorities concerned not to take any adverse action against the employees till the representation is considered and decided.
“The High Court recently directed the administration not to take any adverse action against employees till their representation is considered, but the authorities instead of implementing orders not only force us to quit but also withheld our salaries, isn’t this violation of court orders,” Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a representative of Centaur Hotel Employees Union told reporters.
He said the employees are not at all interested as to who runs the hotel but are concerned about the future of their children which will be at stake in case the authorities take any adverse action against them.
“We would like to warn the administration to not jump to the conclusion as the matter is pending adjudication at the highest judiciary of the Union Territory, any adverse action from the other side will be considered as contempt of court,” he added.
