Kerala HC Raps Govt Over Delay In Salary To KSRTC Staff, Orders Payment of Rs 30 Crore By Aug 24

Kerala High Court said that the government should not give coupons in the place of salary to buy essential items like previous year. 

Adjourning the matter, the court said that provisions for the amount or at least Rs 30 crore should be answered affirmatively on that date.

The Kerala High Court hit out at the state government over the delay in paying salaries to Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) employees especially when Onam was around the corner. Further, the HC directed the state to make provisions to disburse Rs 30 crore before August 24. It also said that in place of salary, coupons to buy essential items should not be provided like the previous year. 

On Monday, a single-judge bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran heard the case and adjourned the matter to August 24.

In the order, Justice Devan Ramachandran, said the delay in paying salary can only lead to "unnecessary strife and controversy" within the ranks of the KSRTC.

"It is rather intriguing that the Government is unable to inform this court of any alternative for the KSRTC – apart from the monthly assistance being given to them; but still delays payment until the end of the month," the order said, as per PTI.

The bench said that the state was in celebratory mode due to Onam and the court alone cannot countenance the fact that the employees of KSRTC are without salary for the last month, July 2023. It said that it has failed to understand the delay in such payments since it could have been done by the first or the second week of every month itself. 

Although this court has frequently posed this question, "no cogent explanation is forthcoming," it stated.

KSRTC's counsel said that at least an additional Rs 30 crore would be needed to provide the employees' entire salaries for the month of July, and an additional Rs 10 crore would be required to cover their festival bonuses and allowances.

Adjourning the matter, the court said that provisions for the amount or at least Rs 30 crore should be answered affirmatively on that date.