Supreme Court Summons Assam Chief Secretary Over Unpaid Tea Workers’ Dues

The Supreme Court has summoned Assam’s Chief Secretary and issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Commerce over delays in paying dues to tea garden workers. Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih criticized the government for lacking sincere efforts to pay wages owed to 28,556 workers from 25 tea estates. The dispute, dating back to 2006, involves unpaid statutory dues under the Tea Act and pending PF contributions. Despite a 2010 court order to pay ₹645 crore, ₹414.73 crore remains unpaid to workers, with ₹230.69 crore still due to the PF department.