Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Plea For Revision Of Wages Of 'Palledars' Working In City Agricultural Markets, Issuance Of Licenses

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on a plea concerning the issue of non-revision of wages payable to Palledars or head load workers, employed in city agricultural markets. The lea also concerns issuance of G-category licenses to them.

Justice Rekha Palli sought response of the Delhi Government, Delhi Agricultural Market Board and APMC Azadpur while granting three weeks time to the respondents for filing counter affidavit in the matter. Further one weeks time has been granted for filing the rejoinder.

The plea has been moved by Rashtriya Hamal Panchayat Asangathit Kamgar Union, involving Palledars working in the Azadpur mandi which is Asia's largest wholesale market for fruits and vegetables.

During the course of hearing, Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for the petitioners submitted that the plea raises various fundamental issues including non-revision of wages of the Palledars since 1980, despite representation to the authorities. Furthermore, he submitted that the petition also raises the issue of issuance of licenses to them.

Reliance has been made on Rule 36 of the Delhi Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) General Rules to submit that the Respondents have a duty to fix the fees payable to the Palledars on the piece rate basis. However, it has been claimed that the said fees has not been statutorily revised since 1980, therefore being in gross violation of their legitimate right of fair remuneration.

Furthermore, the plea also places reliance on Section 80 of the Delhi Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Actand Rule 15 of the Rules which provide for issuance of G-category licences on the annual charges of Rs. 2 and Badges for free of cost to these Palledars.

According to the plea, it has been stated that none of the Agricultural Produce Market Committees including the A.P.M.C. in Azadpur Market was complying with the provisions regarding issuance of licenses and badges to them.

"In the absence of a license and badge. the workers have no documentary evidence or their work in the mandi and have no formal recognition or relationship with the APMC. which leads to their exploitation. They have to work on the mercy of the commission agents. There is no security or work available to the palledars and in cases of any accident at the market: they can·t legally establish their existence at the marketplace. There is no mechanism for grievance rcdressal available for their problems," the plea adds.

Accordingly, the plea seeks directions to constitute an inquiry commission for inquiring into the plight of the Palledars and their working conditions in the city agricultural markets. 

It also seeks directions to the Respondent authorities to revise the piece rate fees payable to these Palledars as per the inflation index of the Government of India.

The matter will now be heard on February 16, 2022.

Case Title: RASHTRIYA HAMAL PANCHAYAT EVAM ANYA ASANGATHIT KAMGAR UNION v. STATE OF DELHI & ORS.