Srinagar: Three days after the J&K Administrative Council (AC) approved their incorporation into various corporations under the Tourism department, the former employees of the Centaur Lakeview Hotel today expressed gratitude to the Centre and the UT governments for their reinstatement.
Addressing a press conference here this evening, the representatives of Centaur Hotel Employees Union (CHEU) said: “The Prime Minister’s motto, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ was not just a catchphrase, as our integration into several corporations demonstrated the Center’s equal concern for the people of J&K.”
Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a CHEU representative, said the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir had also directed the UT government to ensure the rehabilitation of the sacked employees and that the Center and the UT government complied with the directions and approved their incorporation into several corporations including JKTDC, JKCCC and SKICC.
Pertinently the Administrative Council (AC) has approved the absorption of 145 former employees of Hotel Corporation of India Limited (HCIL) working at Centaur Lakeview Hotel, Srinagar, in different corporations under the Tourism department.
The decision was taken on the recommendations of the committee that the existing staff of the HCIL will be absorbed by the UT of J&K on the existing terms and conditions while the payment of retirement gratuity and other benefits of the employees for the period they worked with HCI will be borne by HCI.
“We are grateful to the Prime Minister of India and the Lieutenant Governor of J&K for reinstating our jobs. Besides the Secretary Civil Aviation, Rajiv Bhansal also played a key role in this regard, we are really thankful to him as well,” Bhat added.
“Our salary was not withheld when the UT government took over possession of the hotel; only a few months’ salary is to be released and I hope the issue will be addressed under a proper mechanism after our reinstatement,” he added.
