As the indefinite strike by Calcutta High Court employees entered its eighth day today, the West Bengal government today said a decision on their demand for pay hike would be taken within 15 days if they withdrew the agitation.
“We are examining the recommendations of the High Court Pay Committee received on August 27. We will write to the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court within 15 days of withdrawal of strike,” Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta told reporters.
The employees would communicate their decision on the strike by 1:00 PM tomorrow, high court sources said.
The union leaders would meet tomorrow and discuss the condition given by the Finance Minister and then communicate their decision to the Registrar General of the high court, they said.
Dr. Dasgupta, however, claimed that over 40 per cent hike on an average has already been given to the employees with effect from April 1, 2009, and two instalments of arrears have been cleared.
Meanwhile, the High Court pay committee recommended further pay revision on August 27, Dr. Dasgupta said adding he along with Law Minister Rabilal Moitra and State’s Advocate General Balai Roy had an informal meeting on the issue.
Doors of courtrooms and judges chambers remained locked and thousands of litigants suffered as their cases could not be heard due to the strike that began on September 21.
Court employees did not report for duty in response to the strike call given by different unions.
The striking employees have claimed that they were yet to get any pay hike despite Central and State governments implementing pay commission recommendations.
