CPI(M) Demands 1/30th of Pay Plus Bonus to Daily Rated Mazdoors
Port Blair, July 4: CPI (M) has demanded 1/30th of pay plus DA to the daily rated mazdoors with effect from 22nd September, 2017 as ordered by the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court. In a letter sent to the Lt Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee drew the attention of the Lt. Governor to this blatant violation of the order of the High Court by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
He stated in the letter that the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court while disposing of the Appeal filed by the Appellant Govt. of India/A & N Admn [Hon’ble Lt. Governor-vs-ASNVMS (MA/09/2020)] against the judgement dated 13th December, 2019 of the single judge of Calcutta High Court, had directed the Appellants to grant the financial benefit of 1/30th of pay plus DA at the relevant scale of pay to all the daily rated mazdoors working under the A & N Administration within 2 months with effect from 22nd September, 2017, the date on which the Administration had issued an Office Memorandum bearing No.289 to extend the 1/30th of pay plus benefits to DRMs working under the A & N Administration with certain conditions.
Ayyappan brought to the notice of the Lt. Governor that that the Division Bench had directed the Appellant Administration to implement its judgement within two months i.e. by 19th February, 2023. The Andaman & Nicobar Administration, after persistent demand by the CITU and its affiliated unions, had issued an order bearing No. 1283 dated 9th May, 2023 directing the Heads of Departments to extend the 1/30th of pay plus DA to the remaining DRMs working under the Administration from the date of issue of the order (9th May, 2023). In this way, the financial benefit of arrears from September, 2017 has been denied to the daily rated workers in blatant violation of the orders of the High Court Division Bench. No reason has been cited by the Administration for denying the arrears of nearly 6 years.
Secretary CPI (M) further stated that a number of judgements of High Court and Supreme Court involving benefits from back dates of other categories of government servants are implemented without any change, but in the instant case, the poor daily rated workers are denied of their arrears of pay from September, 2017. It does not behold the Administration of a union territory in the largest democracy of the world at a time when we always talk of rule of law and equality before law.
Ayyappan complained that it has become a usual practice for the Andaman & Nicobar Administration to dishonor the Court orders while dealing with the rightful benefits of poor workers. The judgement dated 19th December, 2022 of the Division Bench of High Court is the result of unrelenting agitation and court cases spanning over a period of 3 decades by CITU and its Unions. CPI (M) Secretary requested the Lt Governor to reconsider the office order bearing No. 1283 dated 9th May, 2023 issued by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration and grant the 1/30th of pay plus DA to the daily rated mazdoors with effect from 22nd September, 2017 and, thus, set an example of honouring the High Court judgements by the A & N Administration which will be a great relief to thousands of DRMs in the islands.