New Delhi, August 06: The Supreme Court today directed the government to take over the management of ailing tea gardens across the country and to provide arrears and wages to their workers living in a pitiable condition.
The apex court noted that many tea estates have been abandoned by their owners and workers have not been paid their dues for several years, pushing them on the verge of starvation.
It said though some efforts were made to take corrective measures, the outcome has been “zero”.
“Under these circumstance, we direct the central government to carry out its statutory duty under the provisions of the Tea Act, 1953,” a Bench comprising Chief Justice S H Kapadian and Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar said.
–Agencies