Gujarat HC nod for 6th pay commission benifits to fix wage employees


Ahmedabad, 20 January 2011

Gujarat High Court today directed the state government to give 6th pay commission benefits in basic pay to all government employees that are working on fix wages. The court has asked the government to make necessary changes within next one month.

There are about five lakh employees at present working in govt system in Gujarat as Vidhyasahayaks, police lokrakshaks, administrative assistants, peons, Vanpal assistants and revenue talati. As per the direction of the Gujarat High Court, they will get benefits of respective pay commission from their joining date as arrears.

Vidhyasahayaks, police lokrakshaks, administrative assistants, peons, Vanpal assistants, revenue talati get monthly Rs 5300 with increment of Rs 800 per month. Similarly teaching assistants in secondary education system get Rs 9400 with increase of Rs 4400 per month. Teaching assistants in higher education system and unarmed police sub inspectors in the state are paid Rs 10,000 per month. Sevaks, sahayaks, Van rakshan sahayaks get Rs 4500 with Rs 1000 increment.

Gujarat government has announced a decision to induct 50,000 youths in government system this year. According to state govt’s announcement, as many as 2.25 lakh youths have got jobs in last ten years in Gujarat govt.

Government employees on fix wages are on job either on 11 months contract, or on appointment for five years period.

The petition was filed by Ahmedabad-based legal rights body, Yogakshem Foundation for Human Dignity challenging the government policy of paying fixed wages when employees on fix wages have the same duty and accountability. The permanent employees get DA while those on fixed wages have to work on fixed wages for five years. The petition urged that all the fixed pay employees should get benefits available to contract labourers under the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, such as provident fund and medical benefits among others.

The High Court termed the government policy of such recruitment under low wages as unfair labour practice, which is exploitative in nature.