The Uttarakhand High Court has issued a contempt notice to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Dr. Dhananjay Mohan and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) K.N. Bharti of Kalsi for failing to implement minimum wages for daily wage workers in the forest department. Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari’s single bench has directed both officials to submit their response by June 5.
The petitioners, who have been working in the forest department for several years, informed the court that despite a 2017 High Court order directing the government to provide them minimum wages, they have yet to receive them. The state government had challenged the order in the Supreme Court, but the apex court dismissed its appeal on October 15, 2024, upholding the High Court’s decision.
Despite this, the department did not comply with the ruling. Following multiple appeals at the department and government level, the Daily Wage Workers’ Association filed a contempt petition in the High Court, prompting the court to take strict action and seek personal responses from the officials.
