Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb 20: The Port Blair Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court on 19th February, 2026 in the case ASNVMS-vs-Union of India & Others, passed an order directing the Department of Personnel & Personnel Training, Government of India to accord approval of the Scheme of 2023 submitted to it by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration during 2023 for regularization of the daily rated mazdoors working under the Andaman & Nicobar Administration. The Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh (CITU) has filed the Writ Petition in the High Court during 2024 on the direction of the Supreme Court while disposing of the appeal filed by Admiral DK Joshi, Lt Governor, A&N Islands & Another -vs- ASNVMS & Another against the order of the Division Bench of Calcutta High Court in Contempt Petition CPAN No. 24 of 2023 in MA No.9 of 2020 on 3.8.2023 imposing penalty of rupees five lakhs on the Lt Governor and suspension from service of the then Chief Secretary, A&N Administration.
The case dates back to 2018 when the CITU-affiliated ASNVMS had filed a Writ Petition (WPA 268 of 2018) for grant of 1/30th of pay plus DA to the remaining DRMs and among other prayers for formulation of a scheme for regularization of services of Daily Rated Mazdoors. The High Court passed an order on 13th December 2019 directing the Respondent Administration to grant 1/30th of the pay plus DA to all the DRMs and on the demand of the Union for regularization of DRMs. Aggrieved over the order, the Administration filed an appeal before the Calcutta High Court (MA No. 9 of 2020). The appeal court directing the Administration for grant of 1/30th of pay plus DA to remaining DRMs also directed the Administration to formulate a scheme for regularization of DRMs. When the said order was not implemented, the ASNVMS filed Contempt Petition before the High Court which imposed the penalty on the Lt Governor and Chief Secretary on 3rd August, 2023. Against the high court order of 3rd August, 2023, the Lt Governor and Chief Secretary filed the appeal before the Supreme Court to set aside the penalty of Rs. 5 lakhs and suspension from service respectively.
Immediately thereafter, the Administration issued orders granting financial benefit of 1/30th of pay plus DA to all the DRMs working in various departments of the Administration including APWD. The Administration had also formulated a scheme for regularization of DRMs and sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India which rejected the proposal during December 2023.
Thousands of daily rated workers are going to be benefitted from the order of the High Court dated 19th February, 2026. The CITU and its affiliated union ASNVMS have been conducted agitations including strike for several years for grant of 1/30th of pay plus DA benefits and regularization of services of DRMs. The CITU and ASNVMS had also resorted to litigation when it was found that the Govt of India and A & N Administration did not accept the genuine demands of the Union.
CITU congratulates thousands of daily rated workers working under various departments under the Administration who firmly stood behind the CITU in its fight for these demands. Shri Gopala Binnu Kumar, Ld Advocate of Port Blair has been appearing for the ASNVMS and CITU in the High Court and Supreme Court.