HC sets aside AAP govt order on minimum wages Several pleas filed by various industrial units

◗ The Delhi HC on Saturday quashed the March 2017 notification revising minimum wages

New Delhi, Aug. 4: In a blow to the AAP government, the Delhi high court on Saturday quashed its March 2017 notification revising minimum wages for all classes of workmen in all scheduled employment, saying the decision was ultra vires the Constitution.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar also quashed the Delhi government notification setting up a advisory panel on minimum wages, saying both decisions were taken in contravention of principles of natural justice and were invalid.

The court noted that though the revision of wages “is sorely needed”, the “hurried attempt” and “contravening principles of natural justice has unfortunately disrupted this course, yet again” and referred to a line from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol — “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.”

The bench, however, also said that the fixation of minimum wages in Delhi cannot be faulted simply because they are higher than the rates of minimum wages fixed in surrounding states and towns.

As per the notification, the minimum wages for unskilled, semi- skilled and skilled labour were fixed at ` 13,500, ` 14,698 and ` 16,182, respectively.

The decision by the court came on several pleas filed by various industrial units and companies who employ workers on minimum wages.

The petitioner- employers, who had sought setting aside of the minimum wage order, had contended that the Delhi government had not heard them before coming out with the decision.