A local court in Himachal Pradesh has delivered a strict ruling in a prolonged dispute between a government employee and his department, putting the Public Works Department under immense pressure. The department, which functions under cabinet minister Vikramaditya Singh, has been directed to clear all pending dues of an employee within a strict three-day deadline. Failure to comply with these directives will result in the court taking over and attaching the PWD circuit house located on Tarna Road in Mandi town.
The Core Dispute Over Wages
The entire legal battle stems from a long-standing salary dispute. PWD employee Virender Kumar had previously challenged departmental actions by approaching the labour court. In its ruling delivered on 7 September 2022, the labour court ruled in favour of Virender Kumar, ordering the department to pay him Rs 3,29,222 as compensation. Additionally, the department was instructed to clear 34 months of unpaid salary along with applicable interest. However, as the PWD allegedly dragged its feet and failed to implement the ruling, Virender approached the civil court through his counsel BC Sharma to enforce the payment.
Rejection of Departmental Objections
During the proceedings, Senior Civil Judge Aslam Beg in Mandi formally dismissed the objections filed by the PWD department on 12 August. The court observed in its order that the department had consistently failed to honour the award for a considerable period, leaving the judiciary with no alternative but to order the attachment of departmental properties to secure the payment. Although the department's assistant public prosecutor made a special plea seeking a final opportunity, the court granted a strict three-day window to disburse the total amount.
Detailed Protocols for the Attachment
The court has issued comprehensive instructions regarding the execution of the attachment if the department misses the 17 October deadline. Clear directions have been given to ensure that all necessary equipment and logistics required for attaching the circuit house are kept ready. To maintain public order and prevent any escalation of law and order issues, the Superintendent of Police in Mandi has been explicitly instructed to deploy an adequate number of police personnel at the site.
Consideration for Guests and Timings
In a bid to balance administrative action with public convenience, the court has specified precise timing for the enforcement. The official tasked with overseeing court operations has been directed to initiate the attachment proceedings on 27 October strictly after 12:00 noon. This specific timing was chosen to coincide with the standard check-in and check-out hours for guests staying at the circuit house, ensuring that visitors are not abruptly inconvenienced while the legal process is being carried out.
