Calcutta HC Stays Stipends For Sacked Group C and D Staff
The Calcutta High Court has temporarily halted the state government’s decision to cancel monthly stipends for a group of sacked Group C and D employees, offering them interim relief as legal proceedings advance. This order ensures that affected workers will continue receiving financial support until the court reaches a final conclusion.
HC Stay
In its recent ruling, the court responded to a petition filed by terminated non-gazetted staff, many of whom were removed from service due to alleged irregularities in recruitment. The court found that a sudden withdrawal of stipends could cause “irreparable hardship” to employees and their families. As a result, it ordered a stay on the government’s order pending a full hearing on legal merits.
Stipend Relief
Group C and D roles typically include clerical, support, maintenance, and sanitation work performed under municipal or administrative departments. These staff members rely on monthly stipends as their primary income. With the stay in place, the government is now legally bound to continue stipend payments until the litigation concludes or another order is passed.
Legal Framework
During the hearing, the petitioners’ legal counsel argued that the sudden stipend withdrawal breached principles of natural justice. Several employees stated they had worked at government offices for years under stipend arrangements, often amid pending court challenges against hiring decisions. Counsel contended that halting their financial support would jeopardize their ability to uphold their legal claims, leading to undue suffering.
The state government maintained that the stipend cancellation was necessary following departmental audits that cleansed employment rolls of irregular appointments. Nevertheless, the court emphasized that financial stability should not be compromised before reviewing the legal and factual basis of each case.
Community Impact
Many affected workers are the sole earners in their households. The stipend payments often cover essential expenses such as rent, healthcare, and education for their children. Several petitioners, including single mothers and individuals supporting elderly relatives, underscored the vital role of the stipend in sustaining their daily lives.
Community advocates welcomed the court’s decision, stating that the interim order reflects the justice system’s compassion and foresight. “This stay affirms that courts will restore dignity and lifeline incomes to penniless families,” said a workers’ representative.
Next Steps
The High Court has scheduled detailed hearings to scrutinize:
- The examination process used to recruit the dismissed employees
- Whether alleged irregularities were substantial enough to justify both termination and the ending of stipends
- Whether the government exercised proper legal safeguards and feedback mechanisms before staff dismissal
Until the next hearing, the stipend stay remains effective. Employees and legal observers are calling for a swift resolution and urging the government to strengthen recruitment frameworks to prevent future disputes.
