The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to pay casual and contractual employees of Grade-III and IV posts with equal pay for equal work and with minimum pay scale within a period of two months.
The single bench of Justice Wanlura Diengdoh passed its verdict today on the writ petition filed by MeECL Progressive Workers’ Union (MPWU) through its general secretary Angelina M. Hynniewta.
“As was held at para 61 of the Jagjit Singh case, this court is also of the view that the members of the petitioner/Union herein are entitled to the minimum pay scale at the lowest grade in the regular pay scale as was made applicable to their counterparts,” the High Court said.
Further, the High Court directed the MeECL to take necessary action to ensure that the members of the MPWU whose names were listed in the annexure filed in the court, are being paid “equal pay for equal work”.
The court said that this should be completed within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the certified copy of this judgment and order.
It may be mentioned that the MPWU in its petition had stated that some of these casual and contractual posts include the post of Mali, Sweeper, Cleaner, Pump Operators, Chowkidar, Peon, Teacher, Carpenter etc.
MPWU lawyer P Yobin told the High Court that the members of the Union are appointed against the posts available in the regular cadre and are also performing similar duties as was discharged by the regular employees holding the same or corresponding posts.
