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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court has recently directed the Delhi government and the Delhi Waqf Board authorities to pay board employees' overdue salaries and other benefits within two weeks.

The court was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi Waqf Board Employees Association, wherein they alleged that they had not been paid a salary and other allowances for over six months.

While directing the respondents to clear the outstanding salaries within two weeks, the bench of Justice Jyoti Singh said, “failing which this Court will be constrained to pass adverse orders on the next date i.e. April 18”.

The court noted that the response filed by the CEO showed that there were inter se disputes between him and the board and the only endeavor seemed to be made was to pass the blame on each other for non-payment of the dues of the petitioner-employees, who had not received their emoluments for over six months.

The single-judge bench ordered, “it is directed that the Respondents (Delhi Waqf Board, Chief executive officer of the board, divisional commissioner cum revenue secretary of Delhi government) shall ensure that all outstanding dues of the employees who are members of Petitioner No. 1 as well as Petitioner No. 2 herein are positively released within two weeks from today, failing which this Court will be constrained to pass adverse orders on the next date.”

The present plea stated that the payment of salary to the employees is necessary to enable them to maintain their livelihood and denial of the same amounts to the denial of the Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Case Title: Delhi Waqf Board Employees Association & Anr. v. Chief Executive Officer Delhi Waqf Board & Ors.

Statue: The Constitution of India