All India Radio Casual Announcer ... vs Union Of India & Ors.
2020 Latest Caselaw 3373 Del

                             $~5.
                             *    IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

                             %                                          Decided on: 9th December, 2020

                             +      W.P.(C) 9225/2020

                                    ALL INDIA RADIO CASUAL ANNOUNCER
                                    AND COMPERES UNION & ANR.             ..... Petitioners
                                                  Through: Mr.Akash Vashishtha, Adv. with
                                                  Mr.Munish Choker, Adv.
                                             Versus

                                    UNION OF INDIA & ORS.                              ..... Respondents
                                                  Through:            Ms.Monika Arora, CGSC

                                    CORAM:
                                    HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
                                    HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

                                                              JUDGMENT

: D.N.PATEL, Chief Justice (Oral)

Proceedings in the matter have been conducted through video

conferencing.

C.M.No.29757/2020 (exemptions)

Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. The application is disposed of. W.P.(C) No.9225/2020

1. This public interest litigation is preferred with the following prayers:-

"A. Directing the Respondents to resume all channels/

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PANKAJ KUMAR Location:

Signing Date:14.12.2020 20:14:56 stations/services/units of AIR mentioned in Para 38 of the present petition and those closed/stopped/discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown, with immediate effect.

B. Directing the Respondents to restart the Regional Academies of Broadcasting & Multimedia situated at Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Shillong and Thiruvananthapuram.

C. Quashing the Order of Respondent No.2, dated 03.01.2019.

D. Directing the Respondents to compensate all the contractual casual Announcers/ Radio Jockeys/ Presenters/ Comperes serving in AIR's stations/channels mentioned in Para 38 of this petition, and those closed in the past six months, for the loss of work and wages they suffered since the closure of their channels/stations/services/units. E. Any other writ, order or direction, which this Hon'ble Court pleases be passed in favour of the Petitioners."

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that several

representations have been preferred by the petitioners before the concerned

respondent authorities (Annexure P-7 to the memo of this writ petition) and

these representations have not been decided by the respondent authorities.

3. It is, therefore, submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that it

will suffice for the disposal of the writ petition, if the same is directed to be

treated as a representation by the concerned respondent authorities.

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PANKAJ KUMAR Location:

Signing Date:14.12.2020 20:14:56

4. We accordingly direct the concerned respondent authorities to treat

this writ petition as a representation and decide the same in accordance with

law, rules, regulations and Government policies applicable to the facts of the

case, as expeditiously as possible and practicable.

5. With these observations, the writ petition is disposed of.

CHIEF JUSTICE

PRATEEK JALAN, J DECEMBER 09, 2020 'anb'

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PANKAJ KUMAR Location:

Signing Date:14.12.2020 20:14:56