HC sets aside AAP govt.’s minimum wages order
Staff Reporter
New Delhi, August 05, 2018 04:22 IST
Says it is hurried and invalid
In a blow to the Aam Aadmi Party government, the Delhi High Court on Saturday quashed its March 2017 notification revising minimum wages for all classes of workers in all scheduled employments, saying the decision was ultra vires the Constitution.
A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar also quashed a Delhi government notification setting up an advisory panel on minimum wages, saying both decisions were taken without sufficient material and were invalid. The court noted that though the revision of wages “is sorely needed”, the “hurried attempt” and “contravening principles of natural justice has unfortunately disrupted this course, yet again” and referred to a line from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll — "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get".
‘Flawed committee’
“The flawed committee gave a report which was not based on relevant material, denied fair representation to the employers as well as the employees,” the Bench said.
Reacting to the court order, a Delhi government spokesperson said: “The Delhi government disagrees with the High Court verdict and will decide its next step in favour of workers after studying the order.”
The decision by the HC came on several pleas filed by various industrial units that employ workers on minimum wages.
(With PTI inputs)