High Court Gives Central University 15-Day Deadline on Salary Dues

Supreme Court Order Yet To Be Fully Implemented, Says Petition

The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken a stern view of the delay in salary payment and regularisation benefits to daily wage employees of a Central University, directing the university administration to ensure payment of regular salaries within 15 days.

The matter came up during the hearing of a contempt petition filed by daily wage employees, who alleged that despite clear directions from the courts, they were neither fully regularised nor paid dues applicable to regular staff. The case was heard by Justice BD Guru in the High Court at Bilaspur.

According to court proceedings, the dispute relates to implementation of an earlier order passed in March 2023, under which the employees were to be treated as regular staff with effect from August 26, 2008.

Employees Move Court

The petitioners approached the High Court alleging non-compliance of judicial orders by the university administration. Their counsel argued that even after the dismissal of the university’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) and review plea by the Supreme Court, the benefits ordered by the court had not been fully extended to the workers.

The employees maintained that while the university claimed to have completed regularisation, actual financial benefits linked to regular posts were still pending. They told the court that salary disbursal remained inconsistent and several dues were unpaid.

Court records indicate that the workers have been seeking parity with regular employees for several years.

University Cites Verification Delay

During the hearing, the university administration informed the court that the process of regularisation had already been initiated and that delays were linked to pending document verification.

The university’s counsel submitted that employees had been asked to furnish certain documents required for completing the process, but the records had not yet been received in full. Because of this, payment of benefits was delayed, the court was told.

However, counsel appearing for the petitioners disputed this claim and argued that relevant correspondence and official communication were not properly supplied to the employees earlier.

High Court Issues Directions

After hearing both sides, the High Court directed the university to provide copies of the communication dated April 27, 2026 to all petitioners by May 12.

The employees have subsequently been asked to submit the required documents within one week of receiving the communication.

The court also recorded the university’s assurance that the verification process would be completed within 15 days and that employees working against regular posts would be paid salaries applicable to those positions.

Taking the statement on record, the court directed the university to release regular pay to eligible employees within the stipulated period.

Earlier Orders Recalled

The petitioners referred to the March 6, 2023 order of the High Court, which had stated that the services of the employees would be treated as regular from August 2008 and that they would be entitled to all consequential benefits available to regular staff.

The matter later reached the Supreme Court after the university challenged the order. However, both the SLP and review petition were reportedly dismissed, strengthening the employees’ claim for implementation.

Despite this, the contempt petition states that compliance remained incomplete even after the apex court proceedings concluded.

Next Hearing On June 19

The High Court has now fixed June 19, 2026 as the next date of hearing. During the next proceedings, the court is expected to review whether the university has complied with directions related to salary payment and completion of the verification process.

The case is being closely watched by university employees and contractual staff groups, as it may influence similar disputes concerning regularisation and service benefits in educational institutions.