HC notice to Gujarat for stopping industrial judges' allowance

The Gujarat High Court today issued a notice to the state government on a petition filed by former judges of industrial courts against discontinuing since 2007 the allowances paid to them to hear matters related to Employees' State Insurance Act (ESIA).
The division bench of Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice A Y Kogje issued notice to the state government and Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) on a petition of two retired judges of the industrial court, P R Desai and S S Panchal.
They had approached the High Court with a special civil application against the state government and Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) for discontinuing the allowances.

ESIA protects the interest of industrial workers in case of health-related issues that might cause discontinuation of their wages. ESIC manages funds for social security and health insurance for industrial labourers.
Judges of industrial courts--there are around 30 such courts in the state--were paid Rs 100 for every matter heard under ESIA such as matters related to the applicability of the Act, compensations payable under the Act, among others.
ESIC paid allowances to the judges which were then getting reimbursed by the state government. The judges approached the high court stating that allowance was stopped "without following due process of law or natural justice."

The matter will be next heard after the summer vacation.