The Karnataka High Court on Friday declined to hear a plea from Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Sugar Factory Ltd, Brahmavara in Udupi, till the factory implemented its undertaking given to the court for paying money due to its 213 former employees.
The HC in August 2010 directed the factory to pay arrears of wages, benefits under the tripartite committee wager board, bonus and other statutory benefits for the period from November 2002 up to April 16, 2006, the date factory closed, to 213 employees.
The Labour Department had quantified the total due amount as Rs. 7.86 crore.
As the factory did not pay the dues, the High Court directed the factory to pay an interest at 9 per cent per annum from April 1, 2011, till payment. As the factory did not pay, the workmen filed a contempt of court petition and during the hearing of this plea the MD of the factory in November 2013 gave an undertaking to the court that all dues would be paid by December 31, 2013.
In the latest petition, the factory questioned the quantification of Rs. 7.86 crore but vacation judge A.N. Venugopala Gowda refused to hear the plea till dues are made.
