The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a six-month ban on strikes by all state government employees, invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to ensure uninterrupted delivery of public services. The order, issued through a notification, restricts employees across departments, corporations, development authorities, and local bodies from announcing or participating in any strike until the end of the notified period.
The government stated that the decision aims to safeguard public interest and maintain smooth operations in essential sectors, including health services, electricity and water supply, police, transport, and other citizen-facing services.
Under ESMA, the state has the authority to prohibit strikes at any time. Violations may attract legal consequences, including fines and penalties. Departments have been directed to immediately report any planned gatherings, demonstrations, or strike-related activities to the government.
This move follows recurring strike warnings in several departments, most recently in June 2025, when unions protested the proposed privatisation of parts of the state’s power network. At the time as well, the government had implemented a six-month ESMA ban, which has now effectively been extended.
Additionally, the move is intended to prevent disruptions in citizen services and ensure continuity of core operations. The administration has indicated that employee concerns should be channelled through established grievance and administrative mechanisms rather than work stoppages.
Employee unions have shown mixed responses, with some acknowledging the importance of maintaining essential public services, while others view the decision as limiting their ability to protest workplace issues. Observers suggest that effective dialogue and stronger dispute-resolution systems will be important over the coming months.
The government will review the situation at the end of the six-month period to determine whether the restrictions should continue or be lifted, based on service stability and administrative assessments.
