Smt. Sakunti Minj v. Union Of India

NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR WPS No. 1581 of 2017

1. Smt. Sakunti Minj W/o Shivnath Minj Aged About 47 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted At Middle School, Vijaynagar, Block Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

2. Devanti Minj W/o Dalu Minj Aged About 31 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted At Middle School, Vijaynagar, Block Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

3. Devanti Lakra W/o Luisa Lakra Aged About 30 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted At Middle School, Vijaynagar, Block Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

4. Manmati Devi W/o Shri Shivlal Singh Aged About 37 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted At Primary School, Chandranagar, Block Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

5. Smt. Kammi Devi W/o Devdutt Singh Aged About 37 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted At Primary School, Chandrangar, Block Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

6. Smt. Rajmuni Lakra W/o Rakesh Lakra Aged About 28 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted At Middle School, Vijaynagar, Block Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

7. Smt. Reena Devi W/o Shobhnath Yadav Aged About 29 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted At Primary School, Parsakhand, Block Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

8. Smt. Heeramania Singh W/o Shri Beegan Ram Aged About 69 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted At Primary School, Parsakhand, Block Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh) ---- Petitioner

Versus

1. Union Of India Through Secretary, Ministry Of Human Resources Development, Department Of School Education And Literacy, Mid Day Meal Division, Shashtri Bhawan, New Delhi.

2. State Of Chhattisgarh, Through The Secretary, Department Of School Education, New Mantralay, Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur (Chhattisgarh)

3. Directorate, School Education, Through The Director, School Education, Shiksha Parisar, Pension Bada, Raipur, Distt. Raipur (Chhattisgarh)

4. The Secretary, Labour Department, Indrawati Bhawan, New Raipur, Distt. Raipur (Chhattisgarh)

5. The Collector, Balrampur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

6. District Education Officer, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

7. Block Education Officer, Ramchandrapur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh)

8. Labour Officer, Balrampur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (Chhattisgarh) ---- Respondent For Petitioners Mr. Anshul R. Shrivastava, Advocate For Respondent/State Mr. R. Tripathi, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Shri Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra Order On Board 3/4/2017 1.

Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are working as cook in different govt. schools in Block Ramchandrapur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj(CG), however, their grievance is common that they are paid only Rs.1200/- per month i.e. Rs.40 per day as renumeration or salary, whereas according to the notification Annexure P-2 the minimum wages prescribed in the State of Chhattisgarh is Rs.255 per day for skilled labourers, therefore, the petitioners are also entitled for such minimum wage. 2.

Counsel for the Petitioners relies upon the judgment of the Supreme Court in the matter of State of Punjab & Ors. v. Jagjit Singh & Ors., decided on 26th October, 2016, in which the Supreme Court has held that the principle of equal pay for equal work will also applicable to all the temporary employees and has been held as under:-

"54. There is no room for any doubt, that the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' has emerged from an interpretation of different provisions of the Constitution. The principle has been expounded through a large number of judgments rendered by this Court, and constitutes law declared by this Court. The same is binding on all the courts in India, under Article 141 of the Constitution of India. The parameters of the principle, have been summarized by us in paragraph 42 hereinabove. The principle of 'equal pay for equal work' has also been extended to temporary employees (differently described as work-charge, daily-wage, casual, ad-hoc, contractual, and the like). The legal position, relating to temporary employees, has been summarized by us, in paragraph 44 hereinabove. The above legal position which has been repeatedly declared, is being reiterated by us, yet again."

3.

In view of above, Respondent No.2 is directed to consider the representations of the Petitioners in the light of aforesaid judgment of the Supreme Court, within 30 days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order and to pass a reasoned order in accordance with law on its own merit. The Petitioners are at liberty to make an additional representation,if any.

4.

With the aforesaid direction, the writ petition stands finally disposed of.

Sd/- Judge (Prashant Kumar Mishra) Shyna