Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: High Court has directed the Jal Shakti (PHE) Department not to disturb the present position of its casual employees and release their legitimately earned wages in their favour.
Hearing the plea filed by more than 80 casual employees of the department, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey while issuing notice to Commissioner Secretaries of Jal Shakti and Finance Department as also Chief Engineer Kashmir, Superintending Engineer and Executive Engineer PHE division Handwara for filing of reply also directed for release of their legitimate wages and not to disturb their present status.
The appearing counsel Arif Sikender for these employees informed the court that they were initially engaged as need basis in the month of June 2007 and till date are continuously working on need based casual labourers in the respondent-department.
He submitted before the court that the officials have paid the wages to some of the casual workers and have not paid wages to the petitioner-employees and aggrieved of the inaction on part of the authorities compelled them to knock the doors of the court.
“In the meantime, present status of the petitioners shall not be disturbed and the legitimately earned wages of the petitioners shall also be released in their favour”, Justice Magrey directed. The petitioners as admitted by the officials are continuously working in the department for more than 10 years as such are approaching the concerned forum for regularization of their services under SRO 520 of 2017.
“The certificates of attendance, court has been informed from time to time till date issued by the department for arranging funds for payment of salary to these employees would suggest that the authorities have admitted for their continuous working in the department as such are entitled for their earned wages”, read the petition.
Follow our WhatsApp channel