Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
The Himachal Pradesh high court has once again reprimanded the State government and Himachal Road transport corporation for delaying the payment of long due to employees and pensioners of the corporation.
xpressing strong displeasure, the court warned the Sukhu-led government of a penalty of Rs 50,000 if the affidavit sought earlier is not filed before the next hearing.
The matter came up before Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj in a set of execution petitions, including Vinod Kumar vs. HRTC & Anr., where hundreds of current and retired HRTC employees are awaiting benefits that have been pending for several years.
During the hearing, the counsel for HRTC informed the bench that Rs 13 crore had been disbursed over the past three months, covering 427 out of 634 beneficiaries — roughly 70 percent — who have received one installment each. The Corporation also stated that it had requested the State government to provide a lump-sum grant of Rs 50 crore, or alternatively Rs 2–3 crore per month, to settle the remaining dues.
However, the High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of compliance. Observing that the Corporation “cannot be given such a long latitude in delaying the due payments,” the bench noted that the delay was unreasonable, especially considering the prolonged wait of employees and pensioners for their rightful dues.
HRTC’s financial report submitted before the court painted a grim picture, revealing that the Corporation plans to clear all dues — amounting to nearly Rs 100 crore — only by March 31, 2028. It cited financial stress, stating that its monthly revenue stands at Rs 60–70 crore, while the salary and pension liability alone is about Rs 70 crore, and the total monthly expenditure ranges between Rs 140–145 crore. The Corporation further claimed that the State government’s reduced grant support has aggravated its liquidity crisis.
Unimpressed by the explanation, the court directed the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh to file a detailed affidavit explaining the State’s position and the measures being taken to resolve the issue. The bench made it clear that non-compliance would invite a cost of Rs 50,000 on the State government.
Senior Advocate Sunil Mohan Goel, representing HRTC, assured the court that efforts are underway to release the first installment to all remaining employees, ensuring “equal treatment for all.”
The High Court has fixed the next hearing for December 15, 2025, warning that continued inaction on the part of the State government or the Corporation will not be tolerated any further.
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