Jaipur: Rajasthan Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma on Wednesday staged a sit-in at the Municipal Corporation office in Jaipur to press administrative officials to issue appointment letters to sanitation workers recruited in 2012 but yet to be formally appointed.
Root of the protest
The protest followed complaints from candidates who said they had received no clarity from municipal authorities. Sharma accompanied the group to the corporation office after they approached him at his residence on Wednesday morning, according to the account of events reported from the site.
Authorities present during the dharna included District Collector Artika Shukla and Municipal Commissioner Sohan Singh Naruka. Assistant District Magistrate Yogesh Dagur and Commissioner Naruka later arrived at the protest site carrying five appointment letters, which were handed to workers’ representatives by Sharma. The dharna ended after around five hours.
Claims and counterclaims
Sharma accused the district and municipal officials of adopting an obstructive and autocratic approach and of repeatedly altering the count of eligible candidates during the pendency of the matter — first to 100, then 82, and later 69.
“When the government has already issued orders, what is the obstacle in issuing appointment letters?”
The minister said he had raised the issue with the Urban Development and Housing (UDH) Minister and Akhil Arora, the Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, but no resolution had followed. He alleged either reluctance on the part of officials to issue the appointment letters or pressure tactics to compel candidates into meeting alleged unlawful demands.
Legal and administrative background
The candidates in question were reportedly recruited in 2012. A Rajasthan High Court order in favour of the candidates was issued in 2019, and the Department of Local Bodies (DLB) later deemed them eligible for appointment, according to the reporting. Despite these developments, municipal authorities are said to have delayed issuing formal appointment letters, citing ongoing correspondence and scrutiny.
During the protest, ADM Dagur and Municipal Commissioner Naruka assured those present that the remaining eligible candidates would receive appointment letters after the requisite verification and scrutiny.
Impact on workers and political reaction
Sanitation workers who have waited years for formal appointment say the delay has left them in limbo, affecting livelihoods and access to employment benefits tied to formal government service. The episode drew sharp criticism from the state Congress, and was flagged as an administrative failure by opposition voices.
- Number of recruits originally from 2012 drive: 329
- Appointment letters handed over during protest: 5
- Period of sit-in: Approximately 5 hours
| Year / Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Recruitment of sanitation workers (329 candidates) |
| 2019 | High Court order favouring candidates |
| 2026 (Aug 12) | Sit-in by Forest Minister; five appointment letters handed over |
What officials say
Municipal officials who arrived at the protest maintained that the remaining cases would be processed following scrutiny. The offer of five appointment letters was presented as a step towards resolving the backlog, though the timeline for issuing the remaining letters was not specified in the account of the events.
Wider administrative questions
The incident highlights problems that can arise when long-pending recruitments intersect with changing administrative interpretations and protracted correspondence. For sanitation workers — whose work is crucial to urban public health and city upkeep — delays in formal appointment impede access to job security, statutory benefits and regular pay.
With the minister openly confronting district and municipal officials, the episode raises questions over coordination between political representatives, executive administrators and departmental authorities in ensuring timely implementation of court orders and departmental clearances.
As the process moves forward, affected candidates and civic-watch groups will be watching for clear timelines and written orders that settle the outstanding cases and bring the remainder of the eligible recruits into formal service.
Meera Rathore is the Rajasthan correspondent reporting from Jaipur.
