The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Centre, on a petition filed by multiple journalists’ organisations against termination, salary cut, and forced leave by media houses in the wake of the Coronavirus lockdown.
The notice seeks response from the Central Government, the Indian Newspaper Society and the News Broadcasters’ Association.
A bench comprising Justices N. V. Ramana, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and B.R. Gavai, issued notices to the Centre and said that the matter required consideration as it has raised some serious issues.
"Some serious issues have been raised. It requires a hearing. Other unions are also saying this. The question is, if business does not start, how long will people sustain? This issue needs hearing”, the bench noted in a proceedings held through video conferencing.
The petitioners had submitted that despite the MHA advisory directing the employers not to deduct wages of workers or layoffs during the lockdown period, media houses have ordered salary deductions and mass layoffs. The petition accuses employers in the media industry of meting out “inhuman and illegal treatment” to their employees.
