The Hindu : CJ seeks meeting with CM on salary row

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 26, 2003

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Other States - Bihar

CJ seeks meeting with CM on salary row

By K. Balchand

PATNA OCT. 25. The issue of non-payment of salaries to employees of public sector undertakings and pension to retired persons in Bihar is threatening to snowball into a confrontation between the Patna High Court and the State Government.

A Division Bench, comprising the Chief Justice, R.S. Dhawan and Justice S.K. Singh, said the delay was claiming the lives of the employees and the retired staff. Mr. Justice Dhawan said the Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, should either call on him or give him an appointment so that they could discuss the issue and find a solution. The next hearing would be on November 5.

Also, the Government had not provided any infrastructure to a three-member committee set up for the disbursement of Rs. 50 crores the State Government had deposited with the High Court on the directive of the Supreme Court for payment to employees of PSUs which the Government intended to close down.

Time and again the High Court has summoned senior officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police, over a host of issues ranging from payment of pension to maintenance of law and order. Where the reprimands had no impact, the court resorted to exemplary action.

Many IAS officers were asked to pay the penalty from their pocket.

The Chief Secretary, K.A.H. Subramanian, had to file an affidavit on executing one of its orders. The court warned that Ministers would also be summoned if their departments failed to keep their word.

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CJ seeks meeting with CM on salary row