"SC Seeks Govt.'s Response On Challenge To Non-Payment Of Wages To Tea Garden Workers During COVID Lockdown", 14 May 2020

The Supreme Court... [has] directed the State Government of Assam to respond to a plea seeking payment of wages and ration supplies to Tea Plantation workers within 10 days. A bench... observed that even though the bench is not usually inclined to interfere, it would do so in this case Assam tea gardens "have a history".

Senior Advocate... stated that none of the tea plantation workers were being paid despite directions during the Coronavirus induced lockdown...

The application has been filed as an intervention plea by a trade union of Assam more than 25000 tea garden workers... Their plea... highlights that "despite specific government orders... workers are not being paid their wages and rations by employers. The workers in the tea gardens are in dire circumstances and facing extreme poverty"...