March 1, 2024: The Delhi High Court has ruled that the denial of benefits to construction workers by the Delhi Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board on the ground that the worker failed to pay a contribution to renew the registration is incorrect, according to media reports.
According to a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, workers will remain eligible for benefits under the Act for one year from the date they were required to make fresh contributions to renew the registration.
The court said that any unpaid contributions from the date it became due shall be adjusted against the benefits payable to the construction worker.
The ruling comes after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by the National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour, challenging the Board’s methodology for categorising workers’ registration status under the Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996.
The Bench said that the Act aims to safeguard the welfare of construction workers and ensure their safety, health and welfare. It emphasised that any interpretation resulting in the denial of benefits to the workers contradicts the legislative intent and established legal principles.
While agreeing with the requirement that a construction worker should be engaged in building and construction work for a minimum of 90 days per year to qualify for benefits, the court directed the Board to promptly reconsider all rejected or pending applications in line with the interpretation of Section 17 of the Act.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |
Harini is a content management professional with over 12 years of experience. She has contributed articles for various domains, including real estate, finance, health and travel insurance and e-governance. She has in-depth experience in writing well-researched articles on property trends, infrastructure, taxation, real estate projects and related topics. A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Harini prefers reading motivational books and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the real estate sector.
Related Posts
It is the government’s job to monitor unauthorised construction in Delhi: HC.
Delhi HC sets up committee to decide on regularisation of illegal colonies.
HC seeks Delhi government’s reply, on PIL to stop regularising colonies.
Steps by authorities on air pollution are woefully inadequate: Delhi HC.
HC pulls up Delhi government and DDA, for allowing parks to be converted to parking lots.
Release Rs 1,000 crores for Eastern, Western Peripheral Expressways: SC to Delhi.
