Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 73
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Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
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Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 74
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 88
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Code Context
            if (Configure::read('debug')) {

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&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;
9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;
10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;
12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;
13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;
14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;
15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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	&#039;subheading&#039; =&gt; &#039;&#039;,
	&#039;description&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;
&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;
9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;
10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;
12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;
13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;
14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;
15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime...&#039;
$disp = &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime..."/>
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                <strong>Noted jurists express dismay at Prime Minister’s NREGA statement</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify"><em>Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages <br /></em><br />Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act<br /><br />We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.<br /><br />This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights.<br /><br />Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &ldquo;forced labour&rdquo;.<br /><br />This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.<br /><br />Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.<br /><br />By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.<br /><br />Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.<br /><br />It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.<br /><br />The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&hellip;&rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.<br /><br />It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.<br /><br />The Prime Minister&rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.<br /><br />This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.<br /><br />We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.<br /><br /><em><strong>The undersigned:<br /></strong></em>1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India<br />2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India<br />3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court<br />9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court<br />10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court<br />12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court<br />13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi<br />14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru<br />15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court <br /></div>               </font>
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&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;
9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;
10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;
12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;
13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;
14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;
15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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	&#039;title&#039; =&gt; &#039;Noted jurists express dismay at Prime Minister’s NREGA statement&#039;,
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&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;
9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;
10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;
12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;
13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;
14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;
15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
	&#039;credit_writer&#039; =&gt; &#039;Tehelka, 15 February, 2011, http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ws150211NREGA.asp&#039;,
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime...&#039;
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime..."/>
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                <strong>Noted jurists express dismay at Prime Minister’s NREGA statement</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify"><em>Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages <br /></em><br />Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act<br /><br />We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.<br /><br />This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights.<br /><br />Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &ldquo;forced labour&rdquo;.<br /><br />This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.<br /><br />Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.<br /><br />By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.<br /><br />Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.<br /><br />It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.<br /><br />The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&hellip;&rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.<br /><br />It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.<br /><br />The Prime Minister&rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.<br /><br />This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.<br /><br />We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.<br /><br /><em><strong>The undersigned:<br /></strong></em>1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India<br />2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India<br />3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court<br />9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court<br />10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court<br />12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court<br />13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi<br />14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru<br />15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court <br /></div>               </font>
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&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;
9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;
10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;
12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;
13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;
14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;
15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime...&#039;,
	&#039;disp&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;,
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&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;
3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;
9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;
10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;
11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;
12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;
13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;
14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;
15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;
18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime...&#039;
$disp = &#039;&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Open Statement on Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &amp;lsquo;Delinked&amp;rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &amp;lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&amp;rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&amp;rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &amp;ldquo;forced labour&amp;rdquo;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &amp;ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&amp;hellip;&amp;rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&amp;rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Prime Minister&amp;rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The undersigned:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India&lt;br /&gt;3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp;amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court&lt;br /&gt;9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court&lt;br /&gt;10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court&lt;br /&gt;11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court&lt;br /&gt;12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court&lt;br /&gt;13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi&lt;br /&gt;14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru&lt;br /&gt;15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India&lt;br /&gt;18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&#039;
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime..."/>
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                <strong>Noted jurists express dismay at Prime Minister’s NREGA statement</strong></h1>
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                <div align="justify"><em>Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages <br /></em><br />Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act<br /><br />We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.<br /><br />This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights.<br /><br />Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &ldquo;forced labour&rdquo;.<br /><br />This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.<br /><br />Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.<br /><br />By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.<br /><br />Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.<br /><br />It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.<br /><br />The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&hellip;&rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.<br /><br />It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.<br /><br />The Prime Minister&rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.<br /><br />This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.<br /><br />We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.<br /><br /><em><strong>The undersigned:<br /></strong></em>1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India<br />2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India<br />3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court<br />9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court<br />10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court<br />12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court<br />13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi<br />14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru<br />15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court <br /></div>               </font>
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<em>Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages <br />
</em><br />
Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act<br />
<br />
We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.<br />
<br />
This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights.<br />
<br />
Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &ldquo;forced labour&rdquo;.<br />
<br />
This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.<br />
<br />
Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.<br />
<br />
By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.<br />
<br />
Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.<br />
<br />
It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.<br />
<br />
The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&hellip;&rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.<br />
<br />
It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.<br />
<br />
The Prime Minister&rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.<br />
<br />
This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.<br />
<br />
We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>The undersigned:<br />
</strong></em>1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India<br />
2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India<br />
3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />
4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />
5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />
6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />
7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />
8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court<br />
9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court<br />
10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />
11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court<br />
12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court<br />
13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi<br />
14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru<br />
15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />
16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />
17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />
18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court <br />
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime...',
	'disp' => '<div align="justify"><em>Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages <br /></em><br />Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act<br /><br />We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.<br /><br />This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights.<br /><br />Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &ldquo;forced labour&rdquo;.<br /><br />This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.<br /><br />Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.<br /><br />By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.<br /><br />Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.<br /><br />It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.<br /><br />The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&hellip;&rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.<br /><br />It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.<br /><br />The Prime Minister&rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.<br /><br />This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.<br /><br />We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.<br /><br /><em><strong>The undersigned:<br /></strong></em>1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India<br />2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India<br />3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court<br />9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court<br />10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court<br />12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court<br />13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi<br />14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru<br />15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court <br /></div>',
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	'title' => 'Noted jurists express dismay at Prime Minister’s NREGA statement',
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<em>Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages <br />
</em><br />
Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act<br />
<br />
We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.<br />
<br />
This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights.<br />
<br />
Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &ldquo;forced labour&rdquo;.<br />
<br />
This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.<br />
<br />
Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.<br />
<br />
By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.<br />
<br />
Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.<br />
<br />
It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.<br />
<br />
The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&hellip;&rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.<br />
<br />
It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.<br />
<br />
The Prime Minister&rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.<br />
<br />
This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.<br />
<br />
We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>The undersigned:<br />
</strong></em>1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India<br />
2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India<br />
3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />
4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />
5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />
6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />
7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />
8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court<br />
9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court<br />
10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />
11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court<br />
12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court<br />
13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi<br />
14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru<br />
15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />
16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />
17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />
18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court <br />
</div>',
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Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages 

Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act

We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime...'
$disp = '<div align="justify"><em>Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages <br /></em><br />Open Statement on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is &lsquo;Delinked&rsquo; from the Minimum Wages Act<br /><br />We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that &lsquo;statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act&rsquo; to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country.<br /><br />This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights.<br /><br />Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen&rsquo;s fundamental rights, and tantamount to &ldquo;forced labour&rdquo;.<br /><br />This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work.<br /><br />Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity.<br /><br />By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself.<br /><br />Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage.<br /><br />It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage.<br /><br />The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that &ldquo;not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act&hellip;&rdquo; in effect saying that the State can override citizens&rsquo; fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government.<br /><br />It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same.<br /><br />The Prime Minister&rsquo;s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA.<br /><br />This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary.<br /><br />We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country.<br /><br /><em><strong>The undersigned:<br /></strong></em>1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India<br />2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India<br />3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka &amp; Former Judge, Supreme Court of India<br />7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court<br />9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court<br />10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court<br />11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court<br />12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court<br />13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi<br />14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru<br />15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India<br />18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court <br /></div>'
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Noted jurists express dismay at Prime Minister’s NREGA statement

Say there is no way the workers can be paid less than the minimum wages Open Statement on Prime Minister’s Assertion that the NREGA Wage Rate is ‘Delinked’ from the Minimum Wages Act We the undersigned are shocked at the Prime Minister’s statement in a letter to the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council that ‘statutorily the wage rate under NREGA is delinked and independent of the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act’ to justify the payment of less than minimum wage on MGNREGA works in several states across the country. This assertion is misguided and against the mandate of the Constitution and citizens’ fundamental rights. Payment of the minimum wage is sacrosanct: its violation is a violation of the citizen’s fundamental rights, and tantamount to “forced labour”. This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which in Sanjit Roy v/s State of Rajasthan (1983) even declared the Exemption from Minimum Wages Act unconstitutional if it excluded the applicability of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, to a workman employed in famine relief work. Moreover, when the Government as an employer asserts its right to not pay minimum wages, it loses its moral authority to enforce the Minimum Wages Act, and gives a message to all exploitative industry, big agriculturists, and employers that minimum wages can be violated with impunity. By exempting itself from the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act in the MGNREGA , the government seriously compromises the rights of MGNREGA workers, and undermines the Minimum Wages Act itself. Without the protection of the Minimum Wages Act, the unorganised sector worker will be subject to blatant exploitation, subhuman conditions of work, including situations of bondage. It is notable that the Bonded Labour Act defines the payment of less than the minimum wage as an important condition of bondage. The Prime Minister has based this assertion of MGNREGA wage being distinct from the provisions of minimum wages on the non-obstante clause in Section 6(1) of the NREGA, which states that “not withstanding the Minimum Wages Act…” in effect saying that the State can override citizens’ fundamental rights merely through surreptitiously inserted legislative provisions that can be selectively exercised when it suits the government. It should be obvious that the constitutionality of Section 6(1) itself is in question when used to violate minimum wages as opposed to adequate justification for the same. The Prime Minister’s communication is especially objectionable since the Government of India is currently facing contempt proceedings in the Andhra High Court over its continued refusal to pay prevailing state minimum wage in MGNREGA. This statement thus is clear evidence too of executive contempt for due process of law and the judiciary. We strongly urge the government to immediately ensure the payment of minimum wages in MGNREGA to uphold the fundamental rights of the poorest workers of our country. The undersigned: 1. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India 2. Justice J. S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India 3. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India 4. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India 5. Justice P.B. Sawant, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India 6. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta, Karnataka & Former Judge, Supreme Court of India 7. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court 8. Justice P.K. Mishra, Former Chief Justice, Patna High Court 9. Justice Bilal Nazki, Former Chief Justice, Orissa High Court 10. Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court 11. Justice Hosbet Suresh, Former Judge, Mumbai High Court 12. Justice V.S. Dave, Former Judge, Rajasthan High Court 13. Prof. Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Delhi 14. Dr. Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Law School of India, Bengaluru 15. Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India 16. Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India 17. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India 18. Vrinda Grover, Advocate, Delhi High Court