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Synopsis

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked for the Central Government's opinion on a plea by employees of Consumer Forums across India under third-party contracts seeking handling at par with similarly placed High Court and other forums employees.

A division bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala has also impleaded National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and listed the matter for hearing after four weeks.

The bench has further requested Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain to apprise the Court of the issue on the next date of hearing.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by the technical support staff stating that they are working with respective Consumer Forums and Commissions across India under an outsourced arrangement and are being given step-motherly treatment as compared to the staff working with the other judicial Forums/Commissions such as High Court, District Court, NCLT, NCDRC, Human Right Commission, NCW, etc.

The plea further stated that the employees are "desirous of being treated equally at par to technical support staff, hired and employed by various high courts and districts court and hence, filing this petition before this Hon’ble Court for a fixed tenure and fixed compensation for all the technical support staff of various consumers’ court and frame the guideline accordingly."

The petitioners said that "as per High Courts rules, the appointment of staff in the District Court is based on sole discretion of the District Judge and due to which District Courts, all over India never face any issue with respect to the shortage of staff due to pending approval from the Governments."

Direction to the respondents has also been sought to make a national policy of the E-Committee of SC applicable to the Consumer Commissions. In addition to this, the plea further prayed "for the purpose of the appointment of staff in the Consumer Commissions and the interference of the Government should be reduced in the appointment of the staff in Consumer Commissions."

Case Title: Tage Yassingh and Ors. Vs. Union of India and Ors.