Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken a strict stance in the case of non-payment of financial benefits to transport employees, directing the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) to finalize salary determination within 24 hours. The Corporation informed the court that the benefits would be granted only to those employees who were appointed between the years 2004 and 2005, and they would receive financial benefits with retrospective effect.
During the hearing, Advocate General Anup Rattan informed the court that, in compliance with the High Court’s directive, the government is formulating a comprehensive plan to address the financial challenges faced by various corporations and boards. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for July 16, four weeks from now.
On March 17, a division bench consisting of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja had instructed the government to develop a strategic roadmap aimed at resolving the financial difficulties of various corporations and boards.
The petitioners in the case are employees who were appointed on a contractual basis as drivers and conductors between 2004 and 2005, and were regularized after eight years of service. At that time, there was no policy in place to provide financial benefits. Around 600 employees filed petitions in the High Court challenging this inequality. The court had ordered that they be regularized one year later and also granted them financial benefits from a retrospective date. However, these orders were not implemented.
The government told the court that due to financial constraints, the benefits could not be provided. However, the court emphasized that a system must be put in place to ensure that all loss-making boards and corporations become self-sufficient.
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