Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has invoked the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (ESMA) to prohibit strikes by firemen and their supervisory ranks.
The Home Department has invoked the ESMA to ensure that emergency services are not disrupted.
The ESMA was invoked in the public interest as the Fire Services is vitally necessary for the life of the community. Any such disruption can cause untold hardships to people and can lead to loss to life and property, the Department said in a notification.
“In exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988 (Odisha Act 9 of 1992) read with section 2(b) of the said Act, the State Government do hereby prohibit strikes, as defined vide section 2 (V) of the ESMA Amendment Act, 2020 in the aforementioned services,” the notification reads.
The order imposing ESMA and prohibiting strikes will remain in force for six months from February 21, it added.