BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday again warned that it may have to order stoppage of Namma Metro work if the authorities don’t adhere to labour laws. A division bench headed by Chief Justice DH Waghela gave BMRC time till Monday to submit a compliance report with regard to the July 3 court order.
On July 3, while observing that violation of labour laws is tantamount to violation of human rights, the court had asked all the parties to submit a list of contractors/ sub-contractors in the project and actual number of workers with their details by July 24.
“Nobody is interested. None of you is interested in safeguarding (rights). You cannot work like this at the cost of rest of the people. If you are not serious, we will stop the work and also pass necessary orders,” the bench observed.
Earlier, BMRC counsel sought time till Monday to submit the required details. He explained that a list was given to him only on Tuesday and he couldn’t compile it as different contractors have different conditions and he’d file it by Monday. The counsel also informed the court that a meeting with all contractors was held on July 15 and there’ll be one next week. An inspection will be conducted for physical verification of the contractors’ claims.
Social worker Sathya Samuel Stalin had complained that no one is taking care of workers or their living conditions and authorities are only indulging in blame game.
Plea against LS bypoll
Justice AS Bopanna on Wednesday adjourned to Friday the hearing on two petitions challenging the announcement made by the Election Commission of India to conduct the by-election to two parliamentary constituencies, Mandya and Bangalore Rural, on August 21.
The court requested the advocate general to assist the court in this case. Earlier, counsel for EC informed the court that the calendar of events for the by-election will be announced on July 27. The petitions are filed by MP Nadagowda, president of Janata Dal United (Karnataka), and Ashok Kheny, MLA and head of Karnataka Makkala Paksha.
Counsel for Nadagowda informed the court that only 280 days are left for the term of the 15th Lok Sabha and as per Section 151-A of of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 no election can be held wherein the reminder of the term is less than one year.
