NARENDER MALAV versus STATE OF GUJARAT AND ORS.

Citation: [2006] SUPP. 2 S.C.R. 779 · Decided: 19-05-2006 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: AR. LAKSHMANAN · Disposal: Disposed off

Judgment (excerpt)

NARENDER MALA V 
v. 
STATE OF GUJARAT AND ORS. 
MAY 19, 2006 
[DR. AR. LAKSHMANAN AND LOKESWAR SINGH PANTA, JJ.) 
Constitution of India, 1950-Article 32 -Writ Petition-Regarding 
working conditions of salt workers in Gujarat District-Directions by 
Supreme Court to the State and other functionaries to look into the issue of 
socio-economic development of salt workers-Status reports and affidavit by 
the State to the effect that they are making sincere efforts for welfare of salt 
workers and their children-Necessary steps having been taken, writ petition 
disposed of 
A letter was sent by petitioner expressing some grievances in 
regard to the working conditions of salt workers in Kachchh District, 
Gujarat. This letter itself was considered as writ petition. In this regard, 
this Court issued several directions to the State of Gujarat and other 
functionaries to look into the issue of socio-economic development of salt 
workers. 
Disposing of the writ petition, the Court 
HELD: It is seen from the various reports and affidavit filed by 
the State of Gujarat that they are making sincere efforts for the welfare 
of salt workers and their children in collaboration with the Government 
of India. Since all the necessary steps have already been taken, there 
is no need to keep the Writ Petition pending. [782-G-H, 783-A) 
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION : Writ Petition (Civil) No. 9 of 
2001). 
Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. 
Mis. Joseph Vellapaly, Yashank Adhyaru, Sr. Adv. (A.C.) (NP), 
Sanjeev Kumar Choudhary and Aniruddha P.Mayee, Advs., with him for 
A 
B 
c 
D 
E 
F 
G 
the appellant. 
H 
779 
780 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 2 S.C.R. 
A 
Ms. Hemantika Wahi, Adv .. for Respondents 
B 
c 
D 
E 
Mrs. Kiran Bhardwaj. V.K. Venna and B.V. Balaram Das, Advs., for 
UOI. 
The Judgment uf the Court was delivered by 
DR.AR. LAKSHMANAN,J.: Heard Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Choudhary, 
learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Ms. Hemantika 
Wahi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent-State and the 
counsel for Union of India. This Writ Petition was sent by Narender Malav 
by post to this Court expressing some grievances in regard to the working 
conditions of salt workers in Kachchh District, Gujarat. The letter sent by 
Mr. Narender Malav was considered and numbered as a Writ Petition by 
this Court. The matter is pending in this Court from 200 I. Several Orders 
were passed issuing several directions to the State of Gujarat and other 
functionaries. Several reports have also been filed. Finally, an Order was 
passed by this Court on 20.04.2005 issuing certain directions. By the said 
Order. the Education Department was directed to look into the issue of 
education of children of salt pan workers at the work place, where currently 
no educational facility is made available. The matter was adjourned to 
facilitate the respondent-State Department to file further status report in 
regard to what is stated in paragraph 12 of the affidavit. A further direction 
was also issued directing the Department of Education along with Department 
of Labour, State of Gujarat to give particulars of number of children of 
school going age who are actually attending school and also who are not 
attending school in this area where educational facilities are available. This 
Court also requested the two NGOs, Gantar and SEW A to also file their 
F 
own assessment of the children as prevailing now so that this Court can 
verify the same with the report of the Departments. 
Pursuant to the above directions, a detailed Status Report on salt 
workers in Gujarat was submitted to this Court by Mr. K.B. Vasava, Deputy 
Secretary (Labour), Government of Gujarat. We have perused the Status 
G 
Report. The said report deals with the land used for salt production, 
structure of the salt industry and the action taken which has been divided 
into four categories namely, Category-I, Category-II, Category-III and 
Category-IV and the action taken by the State Government with the support 
and assistance of the Salt Commissioner (under Ministry of commerce, 
H 
Government of India) and NGOs which has taken a number of remedial 
NARENDERMALAV v. STATE [LAKSHMANAN, J.] 
781 
steps for the welfare of salt workers and proper monitoring and evaluation. 
The steps taken by the above authorities are listed in the Status Report 
particularly with regard to the medical facilities provided by 21 mobile 
medical vans of the SEWA (NGO) 

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