Underpaid scavenger women demand justice

Underpaid scavenger women demand justice

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 11, 2012: Akku and Leela, who have been working as scavengers at Government Women Teachers’ Training Institute in Udupi for the past 42 years for a meager basic pay of Rs. 15 per month, have not succeeded in getting the full salary due to them in spite of a prolonged legal battle that began in 1971. 

The two women began requesting authorities concerned in the department of education to give them the minimum wages due to scavengers and sweepers in 1971, and when their pleas fell on deaf ears, they approached the Human Rights Protection Foundation, an NGO, in 1999. The NGO tried its hardest to give them justice for around 2 years, but failed.

In 2001, they filed a petition with the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) in Bangalore, but the education department stopped paying them even the basic pay of Rs. 15 per month. The women, however, continued working in the hope of getting justice from the court. 

On July 25, 2003, the KAT ordered that the services of the two complainants must be regularized within 90 days, but nothing was done for 14 months. 

On September 9, 2004, the two women filed contempt proceedings against the government, after which the education department filed an appeal in the Karnataka High Court against the KAT order. On Oct 4, 2004, the Karnataka High Court ruled in favor of the women and ordered the government to pay the salaries and contempt of court notices were also issued when the salaries were still not paid. 

In 2005, the government responded by filing special leave petition before the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court’s order. On Jan 22, 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that the government must regularize the complainants’ service and pay the salaries due to them. On June 25, 2010, the victims approached several officers, including the secretary to the Government of Karnataka, urging them to regularize their services and pay the arrears due to them. Although two and a half years have passed after the Supreme Court order, the ladies are yet to get their pay. 

The authorities concerned are now arguing that the women have reached retirement age although the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict when they were below retirement age. 

The hapless women are now wondering if there is a court higher than the Supreme Court, which can help them get justice.