DSGMC President, General Secretary Held Guilty of Contempt for Failing to Pay School Employees

The Delhi High Court has held the president and general secretary of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) guilty of contempt of court for failing to comply with the courts directions to pay salaries to the employees of Guru Harkrishan Public Schools (GHPS) as per the sixth and seventh pay commissions.

The Delhi High Court has found the president and general secretary of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) guilty of contempt of court for failing to comply with the court's directives to pay salaries to the employees of Guru Harkrishan Public Schools (GHPS) as per the sixth and seventh pay commissions.

Court's Observations

The high court noted that Sikhism emphasizes honesty and generosity in daily life, and the community and its leaders engage in various philanthropic and charitable activities. However, the court stressed that "charity begins at home," and it is unacceptable to mistreat and deny rightful dues to the schools' teachers and staff while engaging in such philanthropic activities.

Show Cause Notice Issued

The court held Harmeet Singh Kalka, president of the DSGMC, and Jagdeep Singh Khalon, general secretary of the DSGMC, guilty of contempt of court and issued a show cause notice to them on the quantum of punishment to be awarded.

Forensic Audit Ordered

As the president and general secretary of DSGMC and the honorary secretary of the GHPS ND Society, Mandeep Kaur, expressed helplessness in complying with the court's earlier order due to lack of funds, Justice Navin Chawla ordered a forensic audit of the accounts of the society and the 12 schools managed by it from April 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023.

Salary and Perquisites Withheld

The court stated that the salary and other financial perquisites of the members of the GHPS ND Society and the DSGMC shall also be withheld until further orders or until the entire dues of the employees, teaching, and non-teaching staff of the schools are fully paid.

Previous Management Committees

Regarding the people manning the previous management committees, the court directed them to file their affidavits within four weeks to show cause why they should not be held guilty of contempt of court and punished accordingly.

Background of the Case

The court's decision came in response to a batch of petitions filed by the staff of the 12 schools run by the GHPS Society alleging non-compliance with the high court's November 16, 2021, order, which directed the society and DSGMC to pay their salaries and arrears as per the recommendations of the sixth and seventh pay commissions.

Court's Criticism

Justice Chawla criticized the assurances and undertakings given by the authorities to the court, stating that they were merely attempts to buy time and shift the blame to previous managements. The court emphasized that judicial orders must be obeyed at all costs and cannot be circumvented.

The Delhi High Court's decision highlights the importance of adhering to court orders and ensuring fair treatment of employees. The court's observations on the need for "charity to begin at home" serve as a reminder that organizations should prioritize the well-being of their own staff before engaging in external philanthropic activities.