Say council defying HC orders on regularisation
MARGAO
The saga of the beleaguered sanitation workers of MMC, struggling to get their regularisation orders, seems to be far from over.
Following the Contempt Petition filed by the workers, an undertaking was submitted by the Margao Municipal Chief Officer assuring that all the benefits and dues to the sanitation workers would be cleared within four weeks from the Contempt Petition order dated 22/01/2026.
However, in a surprising development on Friday, the 12 workers were issued an order No. 1/226/2016-ADMN/1117 dated 13/02/2026, stating that they have been appointed as regular workers from Friday.
Taking strong exception to this order, the workers after consulting their lawyer submitted a representation expressing reservations over the order issued on Friday.
The worker’s stated that it is surprising that despite two orders of the High Court upholding their regularisation with effect from 02-03-2020 and treating them as regular workers from that date, the Council chooses to issue them a fresh appointment order dated 13-02-2026.
The workers pointed that the order dated 22-01-2026 was in a contempt petition where the CO had deliberately defied the High Court’s Judgment dated 04-08-2025. In the said order dated 22-01-2025, the Council had informed the Court that they will give effect to its 04-08-2025, which was to treat them as “Regular Workers” w.e.f. 02-03-2020. This was accepted as an undertaking to the Court.
“There is no reason for the Council to issue us fresh appointment orders and there is no question of we serving any probation period after being declared as Regular Workers w.e.f 02-03-2020,” the workers stated in their representation to the Chief Officer.
The workers called upon the Chief Officer to honour the judicial orders as clearly observed in both the orders 04-08-2025 and 22-01-2026 and release all their regular benefits.
Reminding the Chief Officer that the four-week time set by the court to release the benefits expires on 22-02-2026, the workers have threatened to again approach the High Court in a contempt petition in the event the High Court orders are not complied.
Reacting very sharply to today’s development, former Chairperson and Bhimshakti Sangatan South Goa President Savio Coutinho slammed the Council and the Chief Officer for being insensitive to the plight of the workers, and for harassing them at the behest of his political masters.
