No fund to pay salaries from April: civic bodies to HC

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday was informed by the civic bodies that the funds were not being released by the Delhi government and corporations have no fund to pay salaries from the month of April.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was told by civic bodies that they don't have sufficient funds to pay salaries from the month of April.

The municipal corporations also said that except some employees of of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), all others have been paid salary for the month of February.

Delhi government's senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra told the bench that on Monday, the Delhi budget has been passed and Rs.1,000 crore extra has been allocated only for the civic bodies purpose.

He also said that the central government have an obligation on the issue and "they cannot run away from their obligations".

The bench asked Delhi government why it has not implemented the report of 4th Delhi Finance Commission, despite the court's order.

The Commission's report recommends measures to improve the financial health of the three civic bodies.

Employees of the national capital's three civic bodies were on strike for few days in January-February over the non-payment of salaries for the past few months. However, after the court's intervention, the unions agreed to call off the strike.