Quick Summary: On December 16, 2025, the Madras High Court ruled in favor of daily wage workers from Thanjavur, ordering the government to pay them a fair wage. This decision marks a significant win for the workers seeking regularization and equal pay.
The case was filed by P. Senthil Kumar and others from Thanjavur District. They worked as temporary employees under the Public Works Department in Chennai. The workers wanted their jobs to be made permanent and asked for back pay with interest. They were challenging a decision from June 17, 2014, which had denied making their jobs permanent because they had not worked for 10 years.
P. Senthil Kumar and the other workers argued that they were being treated unfairly. They claimed they should receive a minimum pay of Rs.18,500 per month, as others in similar positions had been granted this under a government order from December 6, 2019. They felt this was a clear case of "equal pay for equal work" as per Article 39 of the Indian Constitution.
"The respondents are not granting minimum time scale of pay... applying ‘equal pay for equal work’."
The government's lawyer, Mr. V. Nanmaran, admitted that the workers were indeed entitled to the benefits under the government order from 2019. This was an important admission that played a crucial role in the court's decision.
Justice Hemant Chandangoudar was in charge of the case. He decided that the workers should receive the minimum pay with additional allowances, just like others in similar roles. The court ordered the government to put this decision into action within eight weeks from the date of the order, December 16, 2025.
"This writ petition stands disposed of, directing the respondents to grant minimum scale of pay... within a period of eight weeks."
This decision is a big win for P. Senthil Kumar and the other workers, ensuring they receive fair pay for their work. It sets an example for other workers in similar situations, showing the importance of fair treatment and equal pay.
The Madras High Court ruled that the daily wage workers from Thanjavur should receive a fair wage, aligning with the government order from 2019. The government has been instructed to implement this within eight weeks, ensuring workers are compensated fairly for their efforts.
