DELHI HC DIRECTS NORTH DELHI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION CLEAR SALARIES OF TEACHERS WITHIN ONE WEEK

The Delhi HC on Thursday has directed North Delhi Municipal Corporation to clear the salaries of the teachers teaching in the Schools which are run by it within a period of 1 week.

The bench comprising Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad was hearing a Petition filed by Akhil Dilli, Prathmik, Shikshak Sangh and Ors. Who are working as teachers in the schools of North Delhi Municipal Corporation challenging the order passed by learned single Judge dismissing a writ Petition filed by them seeking directions to the NDMC to release their salaries, that have not been paid since March, 2020.

The Single Judge declined to entertain the Petition on the ground that it being a service matter, the remedy of the Petitioners lies before the Central Administration Tribunal (the CAT) in terms of Section 14(1) of the Administration Tribunals Act, 1985.

However, the Petitioners submitted that the CAT has not been functioning during the lockdown period.

Adv. Mukin, appearing for NDMC on the other hand submitted that the CAT has been taking up only urgent matters during lockdown.

The bench was however of the opinion that the “Petitioners cannot be made to run from pillars to post only to demand their lawful dues from the respondent”.

Now, with a direction to the NDMC to file its compliance report, the bench has listed the matter for next hearing on June 26.

By Shubhi Singhal of Law College Dehradun (Uttaranchal University)