Update 28-01-2009 Disciplinary Actions!!

Press Trust of India
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 (New Delhi)

State-run ONGC on Wednesday decided to reinstate 62 executives, out of the 64 it had sacked following the three-day strike in the company that had crippled its oil and gas production.

"Our board on Wednesday decided to take back 62 officers whose services had been terminated," ONGC Chairman and MD RS Sharma told reporters here.

The decision in case of the other two -- the company's Officers Union President Amit Kumar and General Secretary Rajan Pillai -- was deferred, he said.

"They were signatories to the strike call given by the Oil Sector Officer's Association (OSOA) and their fate will be decided in consultation with the industry."

OSOA, an umbrella body of officers in 14 oil PSUs, had stopped work on January 7 to demand higher wages. The strike which had crippled fuel supplies across the country was broken by the government on the evening of January 9.

ONGC had terminated services of 64 officers, while IOC had done the same for three for going on strike that was declared illegal by various High Courts.

Sharma said of the 62 officers being reinstated, six would be placed under suspension pending a disciplinary enquiry against them. The fate of Amit Kumar and Pillai would be decided on the basis of the view that the government, in consultation with the industry takes.