ITANAGAR, Oct 26: The Gauhati High Court, Itanagar Permanent Bench, Naharlagun has passed an order on October 26, directing the state Chief Secretary (respondent) to consider the grievances of the SSA teachers (petitioners) on enhancement of monthly pay on the principle of “equal pay for equal work” and grant of maternity benefits within three months from the date of receiving the order copy.
The petitioners, represented by advocates C W Mantaw, M Nibo and H Lampu in the High Court, cited the judgment of the Supreme Court of India in the case of The State of Punjab -versus- Jagjit Singh, 2017 (1) SCC, 148, wherein it was held that, all the temporary employees are entitled to equal pay for equal work at par with the regular employees.
The advocates also cited the Central Government Notification No. S. 36012/03/2015-SS-I of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, New Delhi, Government of India, dated 12th April 2017, which was issued to all the Labour Departments of all the states for its compliance, wherein it has been unambiguously notified that, even contractual employees are entitled to maternity benefits under the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961 and the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.
The said Act does not differentiate a regular and a contractual employee and applies to all women employees.
Earlier, the SSA teachers (petitioners) serving in different schools under Changlang district had filed a joint representation on August 30 before the authorities praying for enhancement of their monthly pay and grant of maternity benefits.
With no sign of a positive response, the teachers had warned of going to the court of law on October 5 in a press conference here at Itanagar.
