Announcing its reserved verdict on the petitions moved by a number of newspaper employers challenging the legality of the Newspaper Employees (Condition of Service) Act 1973 under which the 7th Wage Board Award was announced, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the act was intra vires the constitution.
The 75-page verdict authored by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry held that, “The Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1973 is intra vires the constitution. Consequently, the Seventh Wage Board Award dated October25, 2001 shall hold the field until it is modified or varied by a later decision of the board published in the manner provided in section 11(2) ibid. Accordingly, we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgements of the High Court of Sindh. All the three petitions are dismissed with costs”.
Earlier on September 29, a three-member SC bench headed by the chief justice and comprising Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, had reserved its verdict after hearing the counsels for the petitioners against the Sindh High Court’s May 31 verdict upholding the 7th Wage Board award.
The SHC on May 31, 2011 had directed the newspaper owners to implement the award for the newspaper employees. The award was supposed to be operative from October 25, but it could not be implemented due to the litigation.
Review: Meanwhile, Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan claimed that according to her information, newspaper owners were going for a review appeal against the SC verdict.
Addressing a press conference, the minister welcomed the SC verdict on the 7th Wage Board Award case and congratulated the journalists on behalf of the government and her ministry.
“The struggle of working journalists for their rights is well in line with Benazir Bhutto’s vision and the Employees Act introduced by Zulfikar Bhutto’s government,” she added.
To a question, the minister said the government had reactivated the press council to ensure early redressal of grievances of working journalists.
SC dismisses pleas against 7th Wage Board Award
