SC to hear Soli on non-payment of Bihar salaries

However, a three-judge bench observed: ‘‘The state having majority shares in these undertakings was liable to pay not only the dues but also interim relief.’’ They adjourned the matter for two weeks saying it would like to hear Sorabjee on the matter before issuing any directions.

The government has refused to take responsibility saying the undertakings were sick and that winding up petitions had already been filed in the Patna High Court. The government was liable only to the extent that it held the shares, it maintained.

Petitioner Kapila Hingorani had requested the court to direct the government to pay at least interim relief to the starving employees to prevent more deaths.

The PIL alleged that about 1,400 employees have died due to non-payment of salaries. The petitioner had particularly mentioned the case of one Chandan Bhattacharya, son of an employee of Bihar State Agro-industries Development Corporation, who sought to immolate himself as his father had not received salary for nine years and his mother and brother died due to lack of medical attention and food.

Official figures show that 88,572 employees with 49 sick public undertakings were dependant on the government for their salaries as well as around 1.56 lakh persons employed in schools, madarasas and colleges.

The court also issued a notice to the Centre and the state on a fresh petition filed by Federation of Public Undertaking Employees and Workers’ Union.