'Will pass appropriate order so that MCD staff get salary'

Delhi High Court on Friday said it was not concerned with the dispute between the AAP government and the BJP-led three municipal corporations in the city and only wants that all employees of the civic bodies get their salaries for which it will pass appropriate orders.

“We had made it clear that we are not concerned with the disputes between the Delhi government and the municipal corporations. We only want that salaries are paid to the employees,” a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said.

The bench said it would pass appropriate order and necessary directions on the issue pertaining to payment of salaries to the employees of the three civic bodies.During the hearing, the municipal corporations claimed before the bench that they have not yet received the entire funds from the Delhi government to pay salaries to all the employees.

The bench, however, observed, “we will not go into this”. Delhi government said they have released 50 per cent of the budget estimate and the amount, which the municipal corporations were entitled under the Municipal Reform Fund (MRF), would be released soon.

The petitioners alleged before the bench that despite the court’s earlier directions, the salaries have not been paid till 7th of every month. “We will pass appropriate order,” the bench said and posted the matter for further proceedings on July 25.

The bench had earlier told the Delhi government and the municipal corporations that they were responsible for paying salaries to the employees of civic bodies and they cannot say they do not have the funds.

The court had directed the civic bodies to pay regular salaries to safai karamcharis “on or before 7th of every month” for smooth functioning of corporations, whose employees frequently go on strike due to non-payment of salaries.

It had also said that Delhi government shall process the financial statements submitted by the corporations for the year 2015-16 and ensure that the amounts under MRF be released within four weeks.

The court’s order had come on pleas seeking release of salaries in the first week of each month.