SC stays Calcutta HC decision, orders suspension of Andaman chief secretary and fine on LG

The Supreme Court on Friday granted an interim stay on an order of the Port Blair Bench of the Calcutta High Court. In fact, the High Court has set aside the Calcutta High Court order suspending Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra and imposing a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Lieutenant Governor DK Joshi for not complying with an earlier order on releasing benefits to workers. But banned.

‘Will stick to the guidelines’

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra took note of the submissions of Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Chief Secretary and the Lieutenant Governor, and stayed the order of the Port Blair bench of the High Court. The bench said, “We will stick to these guidelines. You (the petitioner) must have really annoyed the judges to get it. We are keeping it next Friday.” An order passed on December 19 last year had provided higher wages and DA to around 4,000 daily rated laborers (DRMs) employed by the island administration.

Order was given to suspend the Chief Secretary

The Attorney General of India, R Venkataramani mentioned an appeal against the order of the Port Blair bench of the Calcutta High Court. In which Andaman and Nicobar Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra was directed to be suspended.

The governor was fined

The governor was also fined Rs 5 lakh. The Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory (UT), Admiral DK Joshi has been held guilty for failing to comply with an earlier order of the court.