The Delhi High Court on Friday said that it will not get into the ongoing tussle between the AAP Government and the BJP-led three municipal corporations in the city and is only concerned about the employees of the civic bodies getting their salaries for
which court will pass appropriate orders.
“We will pass appropriate order,” the Bench said and posted the matter for further proceedings on July 25.
A Bench of Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath while hearing the matter said, “We had made it clear that we are not concerned with the disputes between the Delhi Government and the municipal corporations. We only want that salaries are paid to the employees,” said the court adding that it would pass necessary order and proper directions on the issue related to payment of salaries.
During the hearing, the municipal corporations claimed before the Bench that they have not yet received the entire funds from the Delhi Government to pay salaries to all the employees. The Bench, however, observed, “we will not go into this”.
The Delhi Government claimed that they have released 50 per cent of the budget estimate and the amount, which the municipal corporations were entitled under the Municipal Reform Fund (MRF), would be released soon.
The petitioners alleged before the Bench that despite the court’s earlier directions, the salaries have not been paid till 7th of every month.
The Bench had earlier told the Delhi Government and the municipal corporations that they were responsible for
paying salaries to the employees of civic bodies and they cannot say they do not have
the funds.
The court had directed the civic bodies to pay regular salaries to safai karamcharis “on or before 7th of every month” for smooth functioning of corporations, whose employees frequently go on strike due to non-payment of salaries.
It had also said the Delhi Government shall process the financial statements submitted by the corporations for the year 2015-16 and ensure that the amounts under MRF be released within four weeks.
The court’s order had come on pleas seeking release of salaries in the first week of each month.
In January, petitioner Rahul Birla had moved the courtwhen safai karamcharis had gone on strike, claiming that the authorities were not paying salaries and arrears to the MCD workers.