Huda workers go on strike over house allotment faceoff

GURGAON: Huda employees went on indefinite strike from Tuesday to oppose the allotment of an urban development house to police personnel. On Monday, the police took possession of a house in Sector 15 (part 2) which had been allotted to a Huda employee.

"First they allotted a house, which was already allotted to a Huda SDO, to a police officer. Then they took control of the house by force despite our request to wait till the matter is resolved," said Sadhu Ram from Huda Karamchari Ekta union.

Ramnivas Thakran, a union member, said they will take up the issue with Huda administrator. "How could they allow this to happen," said Thakran, while protesting outside the Huda office in Sector 14.

The house in question, bungalow number 5 in Sector 15 (part 2) was allotted to Huda's sub-divisional officer Vijendra Malik in 2013. But he could not then take possession of the house as the earlier occupant, panchayati raj department's SDO Amarjeet Singh Dangi had not vacated it. Meanwhile, deputy commissioner TL Satyaprakash allotted it to a senior police officer on May 2, using his magisterial power.

On Monday, a police team moved some furniture into the house and put a lock on the gate. Huda employees also put a separate lock on the gate.

Estate officer of Huda, Tarun Pawaria said they have received a memorandum from employees union. "The Huda administrator is out of Gurgaon on official work. He will discuss the matter with employees when he returns," said Pawaria.

Huda has recently formed a committee to streamline the allotment of houses to its officials in Gurgaon. In the absence of a policy, many employees continue to reside in official accomodations despite being transferred from the city while officers who are transferred to Gurgaon are forced to live in private accomodations.