Government engineers in Ajmer, Rajasthan, staged a significant protest on Monday, bringing work across several key departments to a halt. The demonstration, organized under the banner of the Rajasthan Engineers Association, was a direct response to a violent incident involving advocates the previous Friday.
Pen-Down Strike for Safety and Justice
The engineers, representing departments including Public Works Department (PWD), Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Ajmer Development Authority (ADA), and Panchayati Raj, observed a pen-down strike. Their primary demand was decisive action against a group of advocates who allegedly assaulted a senior PWD engineer. The incident occurred on Friday on Jaipur Road, where advocates had blocked the road protesting for speed breakers.
On Monday morning, a delegation of engineers marched to the Ajmer Collectorate. They submitted a formal memorandum to the District Collector, vehemently expressing their concerns about safety during duty hours. "We have demanded that based on the photographic and video evidence circulating on social media, the district administration and police must take strict action against the advocates who attacked our senior PWD colleague," stated the engineers' delegation.
The Trigger: A Protest That Turned Violent
The chain of events began when advocates staged a road blockade on Jaipur Road, pressing for the installation of speed breakers. The district administration called a senior PWD engineer to the spot to address the protesters' demand. However, the situation escalated rapidly and spiraled out of control. According to reports, some of the protesting advocates physically attacked the engineer, leading to outrage within the engineering community.
Following discussions with the district administration, the Rajasthan Engineers Association stated that its future course of action would be decided in an upcoming meeting. The pen-down strike underscored their collective resolve for a secure working environment.
Parallel Protest: Lawyers Halt Court Work
In a related development, the Ajmer District Bar Association also called for a work suspension on Monday. Lawyers boycotted court proceedings until their demands for basic amenities in the new court building are met. Bar Association President Yogendra Ojha announced that work in all courts would remain suspended. He cited a severe lack of facilities, complaining that there were no proper arrangements for cleanliness, drinking water, or washrooms for the advocates.
The simultaneous protests by two vital professional groups—engineers and lawyers—have highlighted distinct grievances related to workplace safety and infrastructure in Ajmer. The district administration now faces the twin challenges of addressing the engineers' call for justice and the lawyers' demands for basic facilities to restore normalcy.
