KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the police to ensure maintenance of law and order and also the smooth functioning of seven tea estates owned Kanan Devan Hill Plantation Company.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Shaffique issued the order on a petition by the company seeking police protection in the wake of protest by tea estate workers. The petitioner submitted that even after repeated requests police are not providing proper security. If the situation continues it might lead to violence, unruly scenes and serious law and order problems.
According to the company, the workers resorted to an unjustified agitation demanding maximum bonus and some of them indulged in violence and blocked the NH 49 for nearly 6 hours. Though the police was informed, no action has been taken. Even the Superintendent of Police wrote a letter to the company saying that the agitation was the result of the company’s decision not to provide maximum bonus to the workers and that company would be responsible for any adverse action arising out of the agitation. Though a meeting was held on September 7, no settlement was reached. The workers had gheraoed the managing director and others at the panchayat community hall.The workers had also attacked Chundavurrai factory. The meeting convened by the Regional Labour Commissioner, Kochi remained inconclusive on September 8. The Labour Minster’s meeting on September 9 did not settle the issue. The workers are continuing the agitation.
The petitioners pointed out that the company made a profit of Rs 15.55 crore during 2013-14, but last year profit came down to Rs 5.05 crore.
There was a fall in the price of tea in the world market. Hence, it could not pay the bonus as it used to pay in the previous years. The company had agreed to pay a bonus of 10 per cent.
The company used to give 20 percent as bonuses in the previous years but last year it decided to give a bonus of 10 percent to its employees.
The petitioner argued that they made the decision following the Payment of Bonus Act, the petition stated.
