Team Goemkarponn
Margao: In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing dispute over the regularisation of Margao Municipal Council (MMC) employees, 14 sanitation workers on Thursday evening threatened to set themselves on fire if their demands regarding pay fixation and pending arrears are not resolved within the next two days.
The workers gathered outside the Margao Municipal building carrying bottles filled with petrol and warned that they would resort to self-immolation if the council fails to implement the High Court’s directions. They alleged that despite two court orders, including one passed in a contempt petition, the authorities have failed to grant them the benefits due to them.
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar later assured the media that the issues would be settled in accordance with the High Court’s directions by early next week. He said the pending matters, including correction of the order date, would be addressed by Tuesday or Wednesday.
The sanitation workers, who were initially appointed on daily wages, were granted regularisation orders in March 2010. However, the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) kept the order in abeyance in June 2020 following administrative and political disputes. After unsuccessful attempts to seek relief through political representatives, a group of workers approached the High Court.
Following a prolonged legal battle lasting over four years, the High Court set aside the abeyance order and upheld their regularisation. The workers, however, claim that even several months after the judgment, the council has not fully implemented the court’s directives. They also objected to being asked to apply under the Temporary Status Scheme, which they said contradicts the court’s ruling.
Worker representative Domnic Furtado stated that the employees were forced to file a contempt petition after the delay continued. In response, the Chief Officer submitted an undertaking before the High Court on January 22, 2026, stating that the order dated August 4, 2025 would be implemented within four weeks.
The workers alleged that instead of complying with the ruling, the Chief Officer issued a fresh order on February 13, 2026 stating that their regularisation would take effect from that date. According to them, this contradicts the court’s decision, under which they claim regularisation from March 2020 along with entitlement to arrears.
They have submitted objections to the revised order and reiterated that they should be treated as regular employees from March 2020 with all financial benefits.
