Delhi Air Pollution | Supreme Court Directs NCR States To Urge Workers' Unions To Register In Portal To Receive Allowance During Construction Ban

The Supreme Court on Thursday (December 5) directed the NCR states - Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana- to convene a meeting with all workers' Unions and appeal to them to get the workers registered in the online portal so that they become eligible to receive the subsistence allowance paid during the period when they remain unemployed due to the ban on construction activities.

Due to the imposition of GRAP-IV restrictions in the National Capital Region (NCR) to tackle air pollution, construction activities are banned.

On Monday, the Court had summoned the Chief Secretaries of the NCR States to appear virtually over the default in paying subsistence allowance to labourers who are unemployed due to the ban on construction activities. 

Today, the Court was informed by the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government that Rs.2000 has been paid to 90,693 workers who have registered in the portal and the remaining Rs.6000 would be paid in the coming days.

When the Chief Secretary sought 10 days time for making the payment, Justice Oka said :  "Why? When will you pay the balance amount? They are verified that is why they were paid ₹2000? You want workers to starve? We are straightaway issuing contempt notice to you, this is not done. This is a welfare State."

The bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih expressed surprise at the fact that there are only 90,000 workers in Delhi. The Chief Secretary said that this is the number of registered workers. An intervenor submitted that there are many more workers, nearly 12 lakh, whose registrations got lapsed.

The bench observed in the order: "...the State has made no effort to inform other construction workers that they will be allowed to receive subsistence allowance if they register themselves on the portal. From the submissions of the Chief Secretary, it appears to us that the Delhi Govt did not even think that there may be more than 90693 workers."

The State of Rajasthan informed the Court that its two districts are affected due to the GRAP-IV restrictions. Out of the 3526 workers, 2063 have been paid a total of Rs. 76 lakhs. The Court was not specifically informed how much was the amount paid. The Court directed the State to furnish details next date. 

As regards Haryana, 14 districts are affected. Out of the 2.57 lakh registered workers, about 1.06 lakh workers were paid at the rate of Rs 423 per day.

The Court was told that eight districts of Uttar Pradesh were affected. Out of 4.88 lakh workers registered on the portal, only about 8,000 were paid and no clear information was not available regarding the amount paid. The Court directed the State to ensure that all eligible workers were paid immediately.

Also from today's hearing- Delhi Air Pollution : Supreme Court Allows GRAP-IV Restrictions To Be Relaxed Upto GRAP-II

Live updates from today's hearing can be read here.