Assam Mill Employees don't need to vacate their quarters till next hearing: Delhi High Court

A big relief for the employees of defunct Cachar and Nagaon Paper Mill as Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC)’s liquidator order of vacating the mills’ quarters.

The court also asked the Central Provident Fund Commissioner along with the two respondents, Union of India and Hindustan Paper Corporation, to file a reply within two weeks, on why the provident funds of the employees have not been released.

The next date of hearing on the matter will be on 25 February till which the stay order will remain enforced.

It can be mentioned here that on 23rd December 2019, on behalf of liquidator Kuldeep Verma, the authorities issued a notice to around 1000 HPC mill employees to vacate their quarters by January 31, 2020. Restriction was also imposed on the employees to enter the mill without the head’s permission.

Speaking to Barak Bulletin, Manabendra Chakraborty, president of the Joint Action Committee of Recognized Unions of the two mills, said that every employee and their family was spending their days in fear after receiving the orders to vacate the quarters and now with the interference of Delhi High court, a new ray of hope has arisen. “More than thousand families are living in quarters, combining the two paper mills. Besides, several families are also in Kolkata office quarters. If they had to leave, everyone will come on road, with no other choice”

Chakrabarty said, adding “Due to our blocked salaries from 36 months, the children of the employees are bound to beg on road. We asked for help from the government, some assured, but the hope was not reliable. Now the court has given a new hope. Maybe we will get the pending salaries soon.”