GHADC staff file contempt notice in HC

SHILLONG: The Non-Gazette Employees’ Association of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on Tuesday filed a contempt case against the Chief Executive Member and the Secretary of the Council in the High Court of Meghalaya for non-payment of salary in violation of a 2016 order of the Court.
The High Court had issued an order on September 19, 2016 directing the GHADC to pay salaries to the employees on a regular basis and based on the order, the employees were paid salaries regularly for nine months after which it was stopped.
The employees claimed that the GHADC has not paid the salary since April 2018.
The Association stated that it had filed a contempt case against the GHADC in 2017 but the case was withdrawn following assurance by the GHADC respondents of timely payment of salaries.
The Court allowed the Association to withdraw the case on the condition that if need arises, they may file a fresh motion for initiating contempt proceedings against the respondents/contemnors.
The Association claimed that they have approached the GHADC to release the salaries of the employees but without any success.
The Association also stated that the latest contempt case against the GHADC was an attempt at getting justice for the employees and their families who have been facing undue hardship in managing their finances due to non-payment of their dues.