‘Very Sorry State Of Affairs’: HC Directs Delhi Govt To Ensure Payment Of Wages To Government Hospital Workers

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to ensure payment of wages to the workmen of a government hospital.

The bench of Justice Rekha Palli noted that the workmen of the hospital have not been paid any wages since April 2022 only on account of the files moving up and down between two departments of the Delhi Government.

The Court expressed that the petition depicted a very sorry state of affairs.

“The present petitions preferred by the workmen depict a very sorry W.P.(C) state of affairs, wherein they have not been paid any wages since 12.04.2022 only on account of the files moving up and down between two departments of the Govt. of NCT of Delhi.”, the Court noted.

The counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners have been compelled to approach the Court as the Labour Court, instead of directing the respondent to ensure that the petitioners are paid their due wages, has been, adjourning the matter at their repeated requests.

Advocates Rajiv Agarwal and Meghna De appeared for Petitioners whereas Advocates Anubhav Gupta and Varun Garg appeared for Delhi Government.

The Court directed for issuance of notice to the respondents.

“Issue notice. Learned counsel for the respondent in W.P.(C) 887/2023, W.P.(C)895/2023, W.P.(C)897/2023 and W.P.(C) 903/2023 accept notice. They pray for and are granted one week’s time to obtain instructions/file reply. Response thereto, if any, be filed before the next date. Upon the petitioner taking steps, issue notice to the respondent in W.P.(C) 888/2023, W.P.(C) 896/2023, W.P.(C) 902/2023, W.P.(C) 904/2023 and W.P.(C) 926/2023 through all permissible modes.”, the Court directed.

The Court further ordered that if petitioners are not paid their wages, by the next date, the Secretary(Finance), Delhi Government will remain present in Court.

“It is made clear that in case the petitioners are not paid their wages, by the next date, the Secretary(Finance), Government of NCT of Delhi will remain present in Court.”, the Court said while posting the matter to February 8, 2023.

Cause Title- Lalit Kumar Sharma & Ors. v. Maharishi Valmiki Hospital   

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