Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb 20: The Port Blair Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court on 19th February, 2026, in the case ASNVMS-vs-Union of India & Others, passed an order directing the Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India, to accord approval to the Scheme of 2023 submitted by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration for regularization of the Daily Rated Mazdoors working under the Administration.
According to a press release, the Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh (CITU) had filed the Writ Petition in the High Court in 2024 on the direction of the Supreme Court while disposing of the appeal filed by Admiral DK Joshi, Lt Governor, A&N Islands & Another -vs- ASNVMS & Another against the order of the Division Bench of Calcutta High Court in Contempt Petition CPAN No. 24 of 2023 in MA No. 9 of 2020 dated 3.8.2023, imposing a penalty of Rs. 5 lakhs on the Lt Governor and suspension from service of the then Chief Secretary, A&N Administration.
The case dates back to 2018 when the CITU-affiliated ASNVMS filed a Writ Petition (WPA 268 of 2018) for grant of 1/30th of pay plus DA to the remaining DRMs and, among other prayers, for formulation of a scheme for regularization of services of Daily Rated Mazdoors. The High Court, by order dated 13th December 2019, directed the Respondent Administration to grant 1/30th of pay plus DA to all DRMs and to consider the demand of the Union for regularization. Aggrieved by the order, the Administration filed an appeal before the Calcutta High Court (MA No. 9 of 2020). The Appeal Court directed the Administration to grant 1/30th of pay plus DA to the remaining DRMs and also to formulate a scheme for regularization.
When the said order was not implemented, ASNVMS filed a Contempt Petition before the High Court, which imposed a penalty on the Lt Governor and Chief Secretary on 3rd August, 2023. Against the High Court order dated 3rd August, 2023, the Lt Governor and Chief Secretary filed an appeal before the Supreme Court seeking to set aside the penalty of Rs. 5 lakhs and the suspension from service respectively.
Immediately thereafter, the Administration issued orders granting financial benefits of 1/30th of pay plus DA to all DRMs working in various departments, including APWD. The Administration also formulated a scheme for regularization of DRMs and forwarded it to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, which rejected the proposal in December 2023.
Thousands of Daily Rated Mazdoors are expected to benefit from the High Court’s order dated 19th February, 2026. CITU and its affiliated union ASNVMS have conducted prolonged agitations, including strikes, over several years demanding 1/30th of pay plus DA benefits and regularization of services of DRMs. The unions also resorted to litigation when the Government of India and the A&N Administration did not accept their demands.
CITU has congratulated thousands of Daily Rated Mazdoors working under various departments of the Administration who stood firmly behind the union in its fight for these demands. Mr. Gopala Binnu Kumar, Advocate, Port Blair, appeared for ASNVMS and CITU before the High Court and the Supreme Court.
