'Shocking': MP High Court On State Withholding Honorarium Of Health Coordinators Who Worked During Covid-19 Despite Expiry Of Contract

The Gwalior Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court has criticized the State authorities for denying honorarium to Early Childhood Care and Education Coordinators within the Child Development Project, who were compelled to work during the Covid-19 Pandemic even after their contractual period was over. A single judge bench of Justice Gurpal Singh Ahluwalia observed, “It is really shocking that when the services of petitioners were required by the State of Madhya Pradesh in view of the COVID-19 pandemic as the lives of citizens were in danger, then respondents compelled the petitioners to work in the field for the mankind. Thus, notices were issued to respective Child Development Project Officers calling for explanation as to how the petitioners were allowed to work without renewal of their contractual period. “Although it is for the State Government to decide whether the services of petitioners were required or not, but since petitioners were compelled to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, respondents cannot run away from their liability to pay the honorarium to the petitioners.”, the Court said.