Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court, on Monday, stayed a previous order by a single judge instructing the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to pay salaries to its drivers and conductors by the 10th of each month. The court, now allowing the KSRTC to disburse wages in two instalments, directed the first payment on or before the 10th and the second by the 20th of every month. The bench of Justices Anu Sivaraman and C Pratheep Kumar scheduled further hearings for March 11.
Advocate Deepu Thankan, representing KSRTC, confirmed the court’s decision. The high court’s latest order came in response to a plea by KSRTC challenging the single judge’s earlier directive from August 24, 2023, which mandated the payment of salaries by the 10th of every month. The High Court’s August 2023 order originated from multiple pleas by KSRTC drivers and conductors, citing prolonged delays in salary disbursements.
KSRTC, in its appeal, argued that it currently follows a two-instalment payment system as per a February 2023 circular, which has not been stayed by the court. The KSRTC asserted that the circular was issued with the consent of all employees, emphasising that there were no objections.
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