SC refrains government from implementing journalists' wage board report for 2 weeks

The Supreme Court today asked the government to refrain from implementing the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists for two weeks, when it will take up the matter.

The court directions followed a plea by the Anand Bazar Patrika (ABP), publishers of leading English and Bengali title, challenging the recommendations of the wage board.

But several unions of employees of newspapers opposed the ABP plea, pointing out that the wage board recommendationis followed a tripartite agreement between the government, newspapers and unions.

ABP had approached the Supreme Court in May, demanding that the Majithia Wage Board recommendations, submitted to the government in December, be declared arbitrary and illegal.

The company wanted the apex court to declare the board as ultra vires and issue an injunction restraining the government from giving effect to its recommendations.

It also claimed that the recommendations were being implemented without giving the company a copy of the report.