SAIL Officers Protest In Bokaro With Black Badges Against Management For Forcible Retirement Of 11 Officials
Among the 11 was Rajeev Bhatia, who blew the lid off the Rs. 800 Crore scam in which 29 senior officers were placed under suspension
Officers at SAIL’s Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), staged a protest against the forced and early retirement of 11 officials by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The demonstration was held on Wednesday in response to a call from the Steel Executives’ Federation of India (SEFI), with hundreds of BSL officers wearing black badges to express their dissatisfaction.
Led by the Bokaro Steel Officers’ Association (BOSA), the protest saw General Secretary Ajay Pandey emphasizing that officer associations across all SAIL steel plants, along with SEFI, stand united against the decision. He demanded the reinstatement of the affected officers. The protest remained peaceful, with 2,000 officers from BSL’s plant and mines participating, though normal operations were not disrupted.
Decision criticized as unjust and demoralizing
BSL officers condemned the decision, stating that it violates principles of justice, transparency, and due process. They warned that the move would demoralize officers and spread discontent among shop floor employees. At a time when SAIL is undergoing a major modernization drive, maintaining officer morale is crucial, he added.
Widespread dissent across departments
Officials from BSL’s colliery, plant, township services, and administrative departments all participated in the protest by wearing black badges. Officers fear that the decision has created an atmosphere of fear within the company, potentially affecting employee efficiency and discouraging new talent from joining SAIL.
A senior doctor at Bokaro General Hospital (BGH) also raised concerns, highlighting the existing shortage of doctors. He warned that such decisions could further worsen the situation and called for a reconsideration of the order, urging the reinstatement of the affected officials.
