SC upholds validity of Majithia Wage Board
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies
New Delhi, February 07 2014 :
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists on their pay structure and directed that the revised salaries be granted to the employees.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P.Sathasivam said that the revised pay should be paid to the employees from November 11, 2011 when the Centre notified the recommendations of the Board.
It said that new pay structure would be implemented from April 2014 and the employer will have to pay arrears within a year in four instalments.
"We hold that the recommendations are valid," the bench said, adding that the Board had followed proper procedures in giving its recommendations and the allegations levelled against it and its constitution are not right.
The bench dismissed the pleas filed by various newspaper managements challenging the validity of the Board's constitution and its recommendations.
"We are fully satisfied that the procedure adopted by the Board is legitimate and no decision was taken unilaterally and arbitrarily and there is no irregularity in the procedure, the bench said.
The bench also said that the recommendations by the Board regarding variable pay is also within its jurisdiction.
"It cannot be held that wage structure is unreasonable," it said.
The court in January this year had reserved its verdict on the pleas of the newspapers.
The 6th (Majithia) Wage Board was constituted by the Labour Ministry in 2007 despite strong reservations from the newspaper industry, and thereafter announced an adhoc interim relief of 30 per cent of basic pay with effect from January 2008.This was implemented by the industry despite the heavy financial burden.
The Board submitted its final recommendations on December 31, 2010, which were notified by the Centre with certain modifications, a year later on November 11, 2011 .
CNNAEO welcomes verdict
An apex organisation of newspapers and news agencies employees on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court verdict upholding recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board.
The general secretary of Confederation of Newspapers and News Agencies Employees Organisations (CNNAEO) M.S.Yadav said the apex court verdict should be honoured by all newspaper managements and it should be implemented keeping in mind welfare of the workers.