International Union Of Food Agr. vs. Union Of India Ministry Of Law And Justice Secretary

ITEM NO.803 COURT NO.4 SECTION PIL-W

S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

CONMT.PET.(C) No. 16/2012 In W.P.(C) No. 365/2006

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF FOOD AGR. & ORS. Petitioner(s)

VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE SECRETARY & ORS. Respondent(s)

Date : 23-04-2025 This petition was mentioned for hearing today.

CORAM :

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ABHAY S. OKA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE UJJAL BHUYAN

Mr. Gaurav Agrawal, Sr. Adv., Amicus Curiae (mentioned by)

For Petitioner(s) : Ms. Jyoti Mendiratta, AOR

For Respondent(s) :Mr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, AOR

• Ms. Taruna Ardhendumauli Prasad, AOR
• Mr. Kunal Mimani, AOR
• Mr. Shuvodeep Roy, AOR
• Mr. Nishe Rajen Shonker, AOR
• Ms. G. Indira, AOR
• Mr. Vinod Sharma, AOR
• Mr. Siddharth, AOR
• Ms. Rashmi Malhotra, AOR
• Mr. Raj Bahadur Yadav, AOR
• Mr. Satya Mitra, AOR
• Ms. Jaikriti S. Jadeja, AOR
• Mr. P. George Giri, AOR
• M/S. M R Law Associates, AOR
• Mr. Santosh Krishnan, AOR
• Mr. T. R. B. Sivakumar, AOR
• Mr. Ravi Raghunath , AOR
• M/S. Mitter & Mitter Co., AOR
• Mr. K. V. Mohan, AOR

Mr. E. M. S. Anam, AOR Mr. Kumar Dushyant Singh, AOR Mr. A. Venayagam Balan, AOR Mr. Aneesh Mittal, AOR Mr. Ankit Roy, AOR Mr. M. P. Vinod, AOR Mr. P. S. Sudheer, AOR Mr. Rituraj Biswas, AOR Mr. A. Karthik, AOR Ms. Vishakha, AOR Mr. Partha Sil, AOR

UPON being mentioned, Court made the following O R D E R

Mentioned by Mr. Gaurav Agarwal, Senior Advocate, appointed as learned Amicus Curiae. Paragraph 8 of our order dated 17th April, 2025 reads thus:

"8. As can be seen from orders passed by this Court from time to time, huge efforts have been taken by Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.M. Sapre, a Retired Judge of this Court. In view of the great work done by him that tea estate workers in three States have started getting their overdue amounts, we direct the States of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam to pay a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- each to Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.M. Sapre, Retired Judge of this Court by way of one time remuneration."

Learned senior counsel informs us that Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.M. Sapre, retired Judge of this Court has expressed inability to accept the amount directed by this Court considering the cause involved. We really appreciate this gesture on the part of Hon'ble Retired Judge. We honour his sentiments.

We direct the State Governments concerned to identify certain cases where a worker has died and widow is facing grave difficulties. With the assistance of the learned Amicus Curiae, States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam will identify such deserving cases and pay over the amount which was to be paid to Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.M. Sapre, Retired Judge in terms of order dated 17th April, 2025. As soon as report regarding West Bengal is submitted, the same procedure shall be followed.

We record our appreciation not only for this gesture but also for the services rendered by Hon'ble Retired Judge for the cause of poor workers in tea States.

(KAVITA PAHUJA) (AVGV RAMU) ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS COURT MASTER (NSH)