Delhi government cannot say it has no obligation to MCDs: Delhi High Court

The Delhi government cannot say they have no obligation towards the three municipal corporations in the city with regard to payment of salaries to employees of three civic bodies, the Delhi high court said on Thursday. “It (the municipal bodies) is part of Delhi only. What does the Centre have to do with it The Centre has nothing to do with it,” a bench of Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath observed.

Maintaining that here it was small issue relating to payment of salaries to municipal employees, it asked why cannot the Delhi government pay.

“It is a local authority of Delhi,” the bench orally said on Delhi government's contention that they paid the salaries, what was expected from them.

The Delhi government said the Centre too cannot shy from its obligations, even as the civic bodies claimed that funds were not being released by the Delhi government. After hearing the counsel for all the parties, the court said that it would pass an appropriate order on April 18.

The court was hearing a PIL by one Birender Sangwan, who has sought lifting of garbage littered on streets due to safai karamchaaris’ strike in January and that the stir be called off as it was causing hardship to public. The employees had called off the strike after their salaries till the month of January were paid.

Another petition by D.P. Chandel, INTUC president, had sought directions to government and EDMC to release arrears as per the 6th Pay Commission to employees.