Smt. Lalita Dhruw v. Union Of India
NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR WPS No. 1893 of 2017
1. Smt. Lalita Dhruw W/o Ramji Dhruw, Aged About 32 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted Boys Middle School Badra Thakur Tahsil + Block Pathariya, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh)
2. Smt. Jana Bai W/o Shri Ganpat Dhruw, Aged About 42 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted Boys Middle School Badra Thakur Tahsil + Block Pathariya, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh)
3. Smt. Fekan Bai W/o Shri Amar Singh Yadav, Aged About 40 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted Primary School Badra Thakur Tahsil + Block Pathariya, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh)
4. Smt. Sandhya Dhruw, W/o Shri Sita Ram Dhruw, Aged About 40 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted Primary School Badra Thakur Tahsil + Block Pathariya, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh)
5. Smt. Heera Bai, W/o Shri Gendlal, Aged About 34 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted Primary School Lukaukapa, Tahsil + Block Pathariya, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh)
6. Smt. Santosh Bai, W/o Dilharan, Aged About 35 Years Working As Cook, Presently Posted Primary School Lukaukapa, Tahsil + Block Pathariya, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh) ---- Petitioner
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 Education New Mantralay, Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur Chhattisgarh.
3. Directorate, School Education, Through : The Director, School Education, Shiksha Parisar, Pension Bada, Raipur, District Raipur (Chhattisgarh)
4. The Collector, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh)
5. District Education Officer, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh)
6. Block Education Officer, District Mungeli (Chhattisgarh) ---- Respondent For Petitioners : Shri Shiv Sahu, Advocate. For Respondent No.1 : Shri RK Gupta, Standing Counsel. For Respondent/State : Shri Satish Gupta, Govt. Advocate. Hon'ble Shri Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra Order On Board 27/04/2017 1.
Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are working on the post of Cook in the Schools under the respondents 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 26 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".
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 disposed of.
Sd/- Judge (Prashant Kumar Mishra) Barve