The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the Union Cabinet to take a decision on implementing the recommendations of the Justice G.R. Majithia Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists.
Any decision would, however, be subject to the outcome of the case filed by ABP Pvt. Ltd.; the Indian Newspaper Society; Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd., and two others challenging the board's final report submitted in December 2010, said a Bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma.
Senior counsel Colin Gonsalves made a mention that the cases scheduled for hearing on Wednesday were not listed, and sought early hearing as the Cabinet had to take a decision on the proposals.
Additional Solicitor-General Parag Tripathi said the Cabinet wanted to consider the wage board report but it could not take any decision as the matter was pending in court. At this, Justice Bhandari told him: “The Cabinet can always consider the issue. No one is preventing you [the Cabinet] from taking a decision.”
Senior counsel Fali Nariman, appearing for ABP Pvt. Ltd., publisher of The Telegraph and other newspapers, said any Cabinet decision would be subject to the final orders of the court.
Justice Bhandari said: “All decisions are subject to our orders. We need not say that.”
The Bench directed that the matter be listed for final hearing on October 11, and that the parties complete their submissions in the meantime.
The newspaper managements had argued that the wage board recommendations, if implemented, would cause chaos in the industry. They also challenged the validity of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, under which the board was formed, and wanted it declared null and void and ultra vires the Constitution. They sought a direction to restrain the Centre from taking any decision based on the board's “faulty and flawed” recommendations.
The Centre, in its response to the first petitioner, ABP Pvt. Ltd., justified the report and said the wage structure had been determined on the basis of the employer's capacity to pay. Though it was constituted specifically to fix or revise wages, the board, in its wisdom, made recommendations on retirement age and other issues also. The Centre rejected the charge that the recommendations would infringe the petitioner's right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Constitution. The petitioner's apprehensions at this stage were premature and unfounded, it said.
Keywords: Majithia Wage Board
A good News, but how far it will be implemented by the managements? Who is going to monitor whether the managements had implemented or not? There is no one who can question the Newspaper managements even from the government. Newspaper industry employees fate is left so, forever at the rock bottom. AS such there r no unions also to fight for the employees. The market has inflation but salary has no inflation. It depends upon Govt. or management 'if' they r interested or shows 'mercy 'upon.
The employers; who were in court, are teling lie that they are not in a position to afford the wage bord. While our hon.court can see their whole NAVRATRA & DIWALI Issues, where many-2 advts. are lying in all pages! Court can demand their AUDIT REPORTS of Income. Only around 5 percent wageboard emplyee are left in all media. Apart this, 95% are Contractual Staff and they are getting 5 to 15 thousand per year salary hike by the grace of Employers!! How it can be possible? Why Cabinet is sitting in our Notification? While Rajiv Gandhi is our Mentor. In his reign, he has changed the life of Media Employee & now this Congress do not want to implement the Dream of Rajiv Gandhi
Some of the News papers are giving good salaries to their employees including attenders. Some Newspaper employers waiting for their advisors decision to give the salary hike to their epmployees, though they got enough money in their pockets.
Even if the Supreme Court decides the case in favour of the newspaper employees, how many of them will be paid wages in accordance with the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board? Not even 5% of the newspaper employees will be eligible as majority of them are engaged as contract labourers with no conditions of service. The Legislation than regulates the service conditions of the newspaper employees is the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service)and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955. Majority of the employees and their Unions representing them employees both at the National and State levels are not even aware what are the ingredients that constitutes Conditions of Service. That is the fate of labourers who constitute human factor of the Fourth Estate.
Majitha wage board has already been delayed by nearly an year. It is high time a notification is issued in this regard. it has become difficult to make both ends meet in such less salary also with diwali approaching a notification will be highly welcome. in anticipation all wage board employees
please impliment the wage board as early as possible, In the government service attendors (peons) are getting more than Rs.10000 per month they are only below 10th or 10th but the graduates are getting in media and print media Rs.10000/- per month. Please do not waste the time impliment the wage board with in the time
It is very good ruling from SC to Central Govt. Govt. pleader always repeated his sentences that govt. is ready to notify the Majithia Wage Report but govt. is in restriction of SC. Now SC clears the Central Govt to notify the said report without any delay. Due to the govt's delay tactics Newspaper owners went SC for time pass. Now Govt's moral duty to honour the SC's ruling is in time. The salary of govt servants is so high. Inflation is also increasing. Day by day inflation is rising. But salary of newspaper employees is not comfortable. The last wage revision for newspaper employees was held before 12 years. So my humble request to the honourable Govt of India on behalf of Hitavada Shramik Sangh Nagpur, is to notify the Majithia Wage Board Recommendations as early as possible. Govt should also strictly warn the concerned authority for proper implementation of the said recommendations. Last cases are pending for justice. Satya Mev Jayate. Last victory will be ours. Thanks! Kashinath Matale nagpur
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