HC seeks Telangana govt’s response on Labour Board appointees with alleged political ties

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday issued notices to the State government and two appointees to the Telangana State Minimum Wages Advisory Board, demanding responses within four weeks to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging their appointments.

Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice P Sam Koshy were hearing a PIL filed by trade union activist and general secretary, Ganji Srinivas. The petition sought the suspension of GO 443, dated March 15, 2024, which appointed B Janak Prasad as chairman, and GO 21 Labour Employment Training and Factories, dated December 12, 2024, appointing S Narasimha Reddy as a member of the Telangana State Minimum Wages Advisory Board.

The notices have been served to the chief secretary, principal secretary of Labour and Employment, Commissioner of Labour, as well as B Janak Prasad and S Narasimha Reddy.

Board members should be independent

Chikkudu Prabhakar, counsel for the petitioner, argued before the court that the appointments are in ‘sheer violation’ of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and contravene Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India. He emphasised that the Act mandates that individuals appointed as chairman or members to such a board must be ‘independent members,’ meaning they should not hold any other office.

The petitioner’s counsel highlighted that Janak Prasad, appointed as chairman, currently serves as the secretary general of the Singareni Coal Mines Labour Union (affiliated to INTUC) and is also the official spokesperson of the ruling Telangana Pradesh Congress. Similarly, S Narasimha Reddy, appointed as a member, is the vice president of the same Singareni Coal Mines Labour Union.

Decision of minimum wages delayed

Furthermore, the petitioner contended that despite the formation of Telangana State on June 2, 2014, and the constitution of two advisory boards in 2014 and 2016, the State government has failed to take a decision to enhance minimum wages in accordance with the law, thereby neglecting the welfare of the labour force in Telangana.

The case has been adjourned for four weeks, awaiting responses from the concerned parties.