NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response of the AAP government and the jail authorities on a prisoner’s plea seeking payment of daily wages as per the enhanced rates of 2019.
Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to the Delhi government and Diector General, Prisons and sought their stand on the prisoner’s petition which had contended that the inmates were being paid as per the 2014 rates.
According to the petitioner, under the 2014 rates the wages for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled categories was Rs 361, Rs 328 and Rs 297 per day, respectively and which after deduction of maintenance cost came to Rs 171, Rs 138 and Rs 107 per day.
Under the revised rates of 2019, the wages for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled categories are Rs 652, Rs 592 and Rs 538 per day, respectively, and after deduction of maintenance cost it comes to Rs 308, Rs 248 and Rs 194 per day, the petition said.
Additional standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose and advocate Urvi Mohan, appearing for the Delhi government and prison authorities, told the court that the June 2019 decision revising the wages was before the home department which will take a decision within four weeks with regard to its implementation.
Taking note of the submission, the high court gave the Delhi government time till mid-July to take a decision and place the same before it by the next date of hearing on July 24.
According to the prisoner’s plea, the wages once revised and a communication is issued, it comes into effect immediately.
Skilled prisoners to get Rs 652 per day
Under the 2014 rates the wages for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled categories was Rs 361, Rs 328 and Rs 297 per day, respectively and which after deduction of maintenance cost came to Rs 171, Rs 138 and Rs 107 per day. Under the revised rates of 2019, the wages for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled categories are Rs 652, Rs 592 and Rs 538 per day, respectively, and after deduction of maintenance cost it comes to Rs 308, Rs 248 and Rs 194 per day, the petition said.
(With PTI inputs)