SC dismisses contempt petitions on journalists wage boards

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has dismissed as "redundant" a clutch of contempt petitions filed by some individuals alleging non-implementation of the recommendations of the Wage Boards for journalists and non-journalists by certain media organisations.

A bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice M Y Eqbal pronounced the order last week on 14 contempt petitions filed by various people against the alleged non-implementation of the Majithia Wage Boards, whose recommendations were upheld by the apex court in February last year.

"Disobedience of court's order as alleged in these contempt petitions is being looked into in connected matters and an order has been passed by this court dated April 28, 2015 appointing inspectors under section 17 (b) of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Condition of Services) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, to make enquiry and submit reports to this court.

"In the above circumstances and also having regard to the delay that has occurred, we are not inclined to entertain these contempt petitions as we consider the same (to) be redundant," the court said.