Supreme Court orders Gujarat to pay arrears to regularised daily-wage workers

The core issue was whether their status as daily wagers disqualified them from receiving these benefits, contrary to a High Court order that had granted them.

Who it concerns: Appellants: Chhaganbhai Kohyabhai Pateliya and 11 others; Respondents: The State of Gujarat and others; Bench: Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva.

What the court decided

• The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and quashed the Division Bench order that had denied the appellants' claim.
• The Court held that the appellants, having been treated as permanent employees under a 1988 Government Resolution, were entitled to the benefit of the increment.
• The Court directed the authorities to examine each case, work out the amounts payable based on modified clause (d) of the order dated 20.02.2025, and release the amounts due within 30 days.
• The Court ordered that if the amounts are not paid within 30 days, interest at 6% per annum shall be paid from the date of default until payment.
• The Court extended the benefits of the order to proforma respondents (other petitioners in the original writ petition) who did not join this appeal.

Also in the document

• The Court noted that the State's argument that daily wagers were not entitled to increments ignored the 1988 Government Resolution which granted them permanent status for pay and benefits.
• The Court clarified that no interest was granted on the arrears by the 20.02.2025 order, but interest would apply if the authorities fail to disburse the amounts within the stipulated 30-day timeframe.
• The judgment relies on the ratio of C.P. Mundinamani and Union of India vs. M. Siddaraj, as modified by the Supreme Court's order dated 20.02.2025.