GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to clear all dues to the members of Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs) of Assam and while passing the order, a single-judge bench comprising Justice Suman Shyam said that the government must consider the grievance of FT members and take a decision on the matter.
Based on a petition filed by a section of FT members seeking a review of their service conditions and enhancement of their salary and allowances, the court asked the state government to file an affidavit within February 20. The court will take up the case on February 22.
It was submitted that the functioning of the Foreigner Tribunals in Assam is not facing any major hurdle, and the minor issues relating to infrastructural matters, are being looked into regularly by the respective district administration.
Some members of the FTs, recruited in 2015 and 2018 at a fixed remuneration of ₹85,000 per month and house rent of ₹4,000 per month, have submitted representation with a prayer that their service condition is suitably reviewed and their salary and allowances are enhanced.
"It appears that the question of revisiting the service conditions of the members of the FTs, including enhancement of salary and allowances, came up for consideration on an earlier occasion,” the court said.
The court by order on June 21, 2018, constituted a six-member committee the chairman of the committee, to look into the matter and make recommendations. Accordingly, the committee made certain recommendations, which are reflected in the minutes of the meeting of the committee held on July 9, 2018. The committee recommended the enhancement of the salary and allowances of the existing members of the FTs in the manner indicated therein.
“In what manner, the recommendations of the committee have, thereafter, been dealt with is not clear from the materials on record. Even the government advocate submits that he has no specific instruction on the aforesaid issue,” the court said.
"Since the members of the FTs, recruited in 2015 and 2018, have been rendering continuous service for several years and their tenures have also been extended by the government from time to time, it is quite natural that they would have a legitimate expectation that there would be periodic review and enhancement of their salary and allowances,” the court also said.
“The other government employees serving in various departments are given increments from time to time. Therefore, with the rising level of inflation and increase in the cost of living, such a request, coming from the members of the FTs, cannot at all be brushed aside,” the court further said.
“This court is, therefore, of the opinion that the Assam government must consider their grievance and take a decision in the matter," it added.