Considering the rising number of COVID-19 infections in the state the Chhattisgarh High Court has issued a circular calling on the Judges, Registry officers and Court Staff to voluntarily donate one day’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The circular was issued by Deepak Kumar Tiwari, Registrar General of the High Court.
The circular states that it was issued with the concurrence of the Chief Justice of the High Court.
All the Judicial officers and employees of the Sub-ordinate Judiciary of the State Chhattisgarh are also asked to voluntarily donate one day’s salary to the Relief Fund by the same circular.
However, the circular clarifies that the contributions are voluntary and anyone who wishes not to make the voluntary contribution can do so by notifying the concerned authority. It is also made clear that if no intimation is received before the stipulated time, it will be considered as consent to donate.
During the first wave of COVID-19 infections, several state governments and Central Public Sector Enterprises had conducted ‘salary challenges’ to aid the government with financial needs in containing the infections. These challenges in the form of voluntary contributions are more preferred over compulsory salary cuts as various High Courts have held that employees cannot be forced to give up part of their salary.
The state is witnessing approximately 17,000 new cases of COVID-19 per day and has had 6,893 deaths so far. There is also a reported lack of testing kits and hospital beds in the state.
