The Supreme Court has directed States to show heart for its employees who upon bifurcation are unnecessarily dragged to courts by the litigating States to claim their rightful dues.
Similar was the tragedy that met several erstwhile employees of Bihar State Road Transport Corporation who since the formation of Jharkhand in 2001 had not been paid arrears of pay and other retiral benefits. Bringing their tragic tale to Court, senior advocate Rakesh K Khanna informed a Bench headed by Chief Justice RM lodha that several employees had died in wait for their dues while many were left starving. Sadly, the apex court had ordered in 2008 and 2011, the States moved by the plight of the workers, the Bench directed the Bihar Government to immediately deposit an amount of Rs4.9 crore with the Court Registry within two weeks. It further directed Jharkhand Government to redress grievances regarding their absorption in service within two months. lashing at the State, the Bench said, “This is not the way you function as a welfare State…they are your erstwhile employees who are dying of hunger and starvation. You must have a human approach.”
Ruing this to be a consequence of bifurcation of States, Bench said, “This is what happens when a State is divided. For you it’s a luxury of litigation, but they are starving.”