Chandigarh, Aug. 12 -- The Chandigarh administration on Monday evening invoked the Haryana Essential Services Act, 1974, to thwart various employee unions from going on strike.

Issuing an order, UT chief secretary Rajeev Verma said the Act was being invoked to ensure proper services or maintaining supplies, public safety, health or sanitation and the maintenance of public order, necessary for the life of community at large. The order will remain in force for six months.

The hospital administration and various employee unions have been at loggerheads over a host of issues, including arrears, salary and service conditions for years together now, resulting in frequent strike calls.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has repeatedly stepped ...