Gujarat Revenue Employees Strike: 10,000 Staff Begin Mass Leave

AHMEDABAD/SURAT: More than 10,000 revenue employees across Gujarat, including revenue clerks, Talatis and Deputy Mamlatdars, went on mass casual leave on Monday, disrupting government services and leaving citizens stranded at Jan Seva Kendras and revenue offices.

The statewide protest on October 5 is over 14 pending demands, including promotions, seniority, transfers, pay-related issues and the removal of duties belonging to other departments from the Revenue Talati’s workload. Employees have warned that if the government fails to respond, an indefinite strike will begin from October 7.

In Ahmedabad, around 450 revenue employees joined the protest, leaving several government offices with empty chairs and applicants waiting for services.

“We had 14 demands. The government had discussed them earlier and promised to resolve them within 30 days. However, not a single demand was accepted. That is why we have gone on strike,” said K.C. Solanki, general secretary of the Gujarat State Revenue Employees’ Association.

Citizens seeking property transfers, certificates and other services were among those affected. An applicant, Ganpatbhai Panchal, said he had spent nearly two hours making rounds of an office despite having an appointment, but was forced to return without completing his work.

In Vadodara, more than 350 Class-3 revenue employees, including Deputy Mamlatdars, participated in the mass CL protest. Vadodara Revenue Employees’ Association president Ramesh Patel said the demands included restoring departmental tasks that were recently added to Revenue Talatis’ job responsibilities, promoting 2010-batch Deputy Mamlatdars as Mamlatdars, revising seniority lists and cancelling certain transfers of 2015-batch clerks promoted as Deputy Mamlatdars.

“An indefinite strike will begin on October 7 if the demands are not resolved,” Patel said.

In Surat, more than 500 employees joined the agitation, bringing several services at Collector and Mamlatdar offices to a halt. Issuance of income, caste and non-creamy layer certificates, along with land revenue-related work, was affected. More than 400 employees also reportedly exited official government WhatsApp groups as part of the protest.

In Rajkot, around 450 employees took mass casual leave and gathered at the Collector’s office. Revenue Employees’ Association representative Manish Gidhwani said clerks, Talatis and Deputy Mamlatdars had participated across Mamlatdar, Prant and Collector offices.

The employees have warned that failure to reach a settlement could trigger further agitation, including “Work to Rule”, under which staff would strictly adhere to prescribed duties and refrain from working on public holidays.