Ludhiana, Aug. 13 -- Amid complaints from councillors that the 1,200 sanitation employees, hired under the outsourcing system nearly one year ago, have never been seen working in their respective areas, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) has ordered the higher-ups to look into the issue. The councillors and even the contractual sanitation workers have termed them ghost employees, accusing influential people of facilitating the hirings for their relatives or acquaintances.

Confirming the issue, MC commissioner Ojasvi Alankar said such employees have been drawing salaries but the "councillors have complained that they never came across such workers". He said the MC hired around 1,200 sanitation workers around one year ago. "However, c...