Mumbai: Offering relief to 580 workers, and the kin of 77 who died, BMC informed Bombay HC of its intent to ensure necessary payment of wages to all, pursuant to court orders passed in November 2023. They were working since 1996 and were made permanent, said Advocate Rohini Thyagarajan, for the Kachara Vahatuk Shramik Sangh, which last year filed a civil contempt of court petition against the civic body and its chief.For BMC and municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagarin, Senior Counsel Ravi Kadam submitted a compliance affidavit before Justice Milind Jadhav on August 25. The HC, noting BMC’s “positive statement”, disposed of the contempt plea, placing no fetters of time-line on the civic administration. On August 18, the HC, while posting the matter to August 25, on being informed that 217 workers were not paid at all for two months, said, “It is shocking that despite exploiting services of these workmen, giving them status of permanency, they have not been paid for the past two months any wages, even the statutory minimum wages despite they rendering continuous service.”There are 363 workmen, some whose whereabouts are unknown, the HC said, but added that the civic corporation “has shown a positive approach by issuing a public advertisement in local newspapers” to enable them to come forward with their details. Hence, when the workers’ union counsel sought a deadline be placed on the civic body, HC said fetters cannot be placed on BMC “so as to disturb the working of the corporation”. “At the end of the day, what is important is to ensure that orders passed by the court are complied with by parties, and it is seen that a very positive and clear intent is shown by the corporation in the case,” observed Justice Jadhav.
