In Brief
This contempt petition concerned non-payment of wages to tea plantation workers. The Supreme Court directed the Union of India and state authorities to recover workers' wages by invoking various labour statutes (Minimum Wages, Gratuity, Provident Fund, etc.). The Court mandated statutory authorities to issue recovery notices to defaulting companies, with reporting hierarchies to District Magistrates and the Central Government. States like Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu were directed to report on recovery steps. Compliance with a prior Court order was to be achieved within four weeks, with regular reporting to the Court and personal appearance of relevant government officials.
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