Compassionate appointment and holiday on fourth Saturday: Ruling, opposition organizations not yielding to government; meeting adjourned without reaching agreement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The meeting convened by the Chief Secretary with representatives from the service organizations to discuss granting a holiday on the fourth Saturday of each month and implementing conditions for compassionate appointments was adjourned without reaching an agreement. Organizations, including NGO unions, expressed their disagreement with the government's recommendation to restrict the appointment of dependents. Organizations, including left organizations, demanded that the current system of compassionate appointment should remain as it is. The meeting got adjourned after the organizations refused to accept the conditions proposed by the government to consider the fourth Saturday as a holiday.

The government had proposed that the fourth Saturday would be treated as a holiday if employees work for an additional 15 minutes on other working days. In addition, casual leave for five days will be slashed. However, the organizations had demanded unconditional leave determination. The government decided to regulate the appointment of dependents following the high court order. The move is to limit compassionate appointments to five percent.