The Delhi High Court recently ordered the Delhi government and Waqf Board authorities to pay overdue salaries and other benefits to board employees within two weeks.
A single bench led by Justice Jyoti Singh was hearing a petition filed by the Delhi Waqf Board Employees Association, who claimed they had not been paid a salary or other allowances for more than six months.
The bench stated that if the respondents do not clear the outstanding salaries within two weeks, “this Court will be forced to pass adverse orders on the next date, i.e. April 18.”
The single bench noted that the CEO’s response showed that there were inter se disputes between him and the board, and the only effort seemed to be made to pass the blame for non-payment of the petitioner-employees’ dues, who had not received their emoluments for more than six months.
“It is directed that the Respondents (Delhi Waqf Board, Chief executive officer of the board, divisional commissioner cum revenue secretary of Delhi government) shall ensure that all outstanding dues of the employees who are members of Petitioner No. 1 as well as Petitioner No. 2 herein are positively released within two weeks from today, failing which this Court will be constrained to pass adverse orders on the next date,” Justice Singh ordered.
According to the current petition, the payment of salary to employees is required to enable them to maintain their livelihood, and denial of the same amounts to denial of the Right to Life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
