Even as Puducherry celebrated May Day with the Lieutenant Governor Virendra Kataria, Chief Minister N Rangasamy, Labour Minister and leaders of various political parties extending their greetings, the aggrieved workers continue to wait for justice as the Labour Court in Puducherry and the Standing Industrial Disputes Tribunal remain without a full-time judge for over six months.
In spite of a judicial officer presiding over the court periodically, it is proving to be inadequate as the cases have been piling up. Ever since the Labour Court judge Mohandass was transferred, no one has been posted in his place, except a judicial officer, who presides once a week.
All cases are posted only on Fridays, resulting in piling up of cases as the judge generally presides on Fridays and if Friday is a holiday then the cases are further postponed until the next Friday. Several trade unions have been pressing for posting of a full-time Labour Court judge.
S Balasubramanian, State secretary of CPI-ML, said that they have been fighting for the appointment of a judge as several cases were pending despite the mandate that disposal of cases should be completed within 90 days, as per the labour laws.