Tamil Nadu Timeline

GovernanceDMK-AIADMK alternation

Mass dismissal of striking government employees under TESMA

· Chennai

The state dismissed between about 170,000 and 200,000 striking government employees and teachers under its Essential Services Maintenance Act.

Government employees and teachers began an indefinite strike in July 2003 against cuts to pension and other benefits. The AIADMK government responded by invoking and amending the Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act (TESMA), and between about 170,000 and 200,000 employees were dismissed within days, with many evicted from government quarters. The Supreme Court, in T. K. Rangarajan v. Government of Tamil Nadu, held that government employees had no fundamental right to strike, while directing that most of those dismissed be taken back. It remains one of the largest mass dismissals of public employees in India.

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