Vadodara: Employees of the district revenue department have gone on mass casual leave (CL) in protest, as their longstanding demands remain unfulfilled. After previously working while wearing black bands, the revenue staff in the city and district are now observing a mass CL, which is likely to disrupt several services, including the issuance of ration cards, land-use changes, and pending matters at the provincial office.

The employees have raised four major demands before the state government. These include publishing the seniority list of Deputy Mamlatdars of 2012 along with the benefit of deemed debt and providing promotions to Mamlatdars. They are also demanding immediate decisions on pending district transfer applications and the implementation of a new online system for fresh applications. Another demand is to stop the requirement of obtaining an NOC from the Collector for transfers. Lastly, they are seeking the promotion of all clerk cadre employees of 2015 and the cancellation of unauthorized district transfer orders.

The employees claim that despite repeated representations, no action has been taken, prompting them to intensify their protest. Following their black band protest on April 22, they are now observing a mass CL across the state. In Vadodara district alone, approximately 300 revenue employees — including 150 Deputy Mamlatdars, 75 Talatis, and 75 clerks — are expected to participate.

As a result, services related to income certificates, ration cards, caste certificates, and creamy layer certificates at 13 public service centers (four in urban areas, one in Vadodara rural, and eight in various talukas) are likely to be affected.

Additionally, key branches at the Collector’s office — including DCLR, non-agriculture, supply, elections, registry, disaster, and Mamlatdar offices — will face staff absences, stalling operations for the day. DeshGujarat