Srinagar: In the matter of regularization of scores of daily-rated workers in courts across the union territory, J&K High Court on Monday directed the Secretary Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, to file response within three weeks.
The workers had filed a petition against the Registrar General of the High Court saying that despite having served in the High Court and the subordinate courts for years together their future was still in an uncertain state.
The authorities were unreceptive to their demand of regularization, they said.
Hearting the case, Justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Sanjay Dhar observed that in terms of order of 16th September, 2021, the respondent Registrar General has filed the action taken report.
The report reveals that the matter is pending decision with the government for accord of approval to the two sets of draft rules forwarded in terms of a February 2019 communication.
The subject matter of the batch of petitions pertains to the regularization of the daily-rated workers’ working in High Court, the district judiciary and subordinate courts.
The bench observed that the mater needs a speedy decision in accordance with law.
“Inordinate delay by the government in taking decision with regard to approval of the draft rules submitted to it by the Registrar General, as mentioned hereinabove, may not advance the cause of justice. Accordingly, we expect the government to expedite effective decision in the matter and file response,” the division bench said.
The judges directed the Union Territory’s Secretary, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, to file response within three weeks from today.
“Let the response be filed well in advance of the next date,” directed the bench.
Exhibiting a considerate approach, the bench also directed “till such time the matter is finally decided by the court, the respondents shall ensure payment of wages to the petitioners in terms of the rules governing the subject.”
Posting the matter for 29th of November, the bench asked “all the appearing counsels in the case shall assist the court in the matter so as to enable it to take a decision in accordance with law.”
