29/12/2025
*Assistant Labour Commissioner Shopian Orders Release of Withheld Wages with 10% Interest*
*Advocate Mohsin Nabhi Mir Secures Labour Court Order on Withheld Wages*
the Assistant Labour Commissioner Shopian has passed a detailed order under the Wages Act directing Grameen Vikas Trust to release the withheld wages of nine contractual employees along with 10 per cent interest.
The employees were engaged by Grameen Vikas Trust under the Jal Jeevan Mission for providing safe drinking water to households. Their initial one-year contract commenced in March 2021 and was subsequently extended up to April 2024.
Despite continuous service, the Trust allegedly stopped paying their wages from May 2022 to April 2024.
Left with no option, the affected employees approached the Assistant Labour Court, Shopian, through their counsel Advocate Mohsin Nabhi Mir. During the proceedings, the counsel established that all nine employees had worked as per contractual terms on a fixed monthly salary of ₹18,000.
Advocate Mir cited multiple legal precedents under the Wages Act and successfully convinced the court that the Trust had unlawfully withheld wages for nearly two years amounting to clear exploitation of the workers.
After considering the submissions and material on record, the Assistant Labour Commissioner held Grameen Vikas Trust guilty of violating labour laws and ordered immediate release of the pending wages along with 10 per cent interest in favour of the employees.
The order is being viewed as an important step towards protecting the rights of contractual workers and ensuring accountability of implementing agencies under government schemes.
