Smt. Radha Singh v. Union Of India

NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR WPS No. 694 of 2017

1. Smt. Radha Singh W/o Shri Suk Singh, Aged About 27 Years Working As Cook Primary School Barwapat Village PanchayatNawapara, Kala, Block & Tahsil Premnagar, Distt. Surajpur, (Chhattisgarh).

2. Smt. Devkumari, W/o Shri Dashram, aged about 25 years, working as Cook Primary School Barwapat, Village Panchayat Nawapara, Kala Block & Tahsil Premnagar, District Surajpur (CG).

---- Petitioners

Versus

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

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

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

4. The Collector, Surajpur, Distt. Surajpur, (Chhattisgarh)

5. The District Education Officer, Surajpur, Distt. Surajpur, (Chhattisgarh)

6. Block Education Officer, Premnagar, Block Premnagar, Distt. Surajpur, (Chhattisgarh) ---- Respondents For Petitioner :

Mr. A.N. Pandey, Advocate For Respondents/State :

Mr. Prasun Bhaduri, Govt. Advocate Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal Order on Board 09/02/2017 1.

Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are working on the post of Cook in the Government Primary School and they are being paid only Rs.1200/- per month i.e. Rs.40/- per day, whereas according to the notification Annexure P/2, minimum wages prescribed by the Chhattisgarh Minimum Wage, they are entitled

for Rs.255/- per day as they are skilled labour. He would rely upon the judgment of the Supreme Court in the matter of State of Punjab & Ors. Vs. 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 workcharge, 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.

2.

In view of above, respondent No.2 is directed to consider the representation 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.

3.

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

Sd/- (Sanjay K. Agrawal) JUDGE L/-