Engage 50 per cent workers from those who gave land: Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the Neyveli Lignite Corporation of India Limited to provide 50 per cent reservation to people evacuated by the project, in the vacancies in the unskilled categories by contractors.
 
Disposing of the petition filed by NLC Jeeva Oppantha Thozhilalargal Sangam, Cuddalore, Justice S.M. Subramaniam said “in view of the counter-affidavit filed, the authorities are bound to implement the agreed conditions in respect of engagement of 50% of the land evictees. It is for the authorities to monitor the implementation of these agreements in its letter and spirit.  In this view of the matter, the authorities are directed to monitor the implementation of the clauses and the assurances given in a counter statement filed on September 8, 2017, in this writ petition.”

The petitioner sought to quash the Tender Notification dated July 4, 2017, and Corrigendum dated July 19, 2017, and August 14, 2017, issued by the NLC India Limited Company and sought for direction to engage the existing contract employees and persons from families who have given up their lands for the formation of the public sector.

Senior Counsel P. Wilson, appearing on behalf of the Sangam, submitted that employment opportunity was ensured to the land evictees by way of an agreement entered into between the Company and the representatives of the land evictees.

In the Minutes of the Meeting signed by the District Collector, Cuddalore in proceedings dated October 7, 2009, also assured that at least one member of the family of the land evictees to be engaged as a contract labourer as per the above. 

 Another Circular dated December 8, 2009, also made it clear that it has been decided to engage the contract workers from land evictees to the extent of 50% and therefore, the condition should be incorporated under the Tender Notification itself.