The High Court of Delhi has questioned the Aam Aadmi Party government for failing to release the funds for the wages of Sanitation workers. It said that the workers should not be made to suffer due to the tussle between the authorities. Responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed for the release of pending salaries of the sanitation workers of the civic bodies in Delhi, Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar made the above observation. The Justice said that Municipal corporation is not like a private company where one could refuse to pay for not performing. They said that workers suffer when their wages are delayed and if they go on strike, the whole city would suffer. The Court said that the workers and residents of Delhi should not be made to suffer due to the tussle between the agencies.

The Counsel of the Delhi Government said that it was the responsibility of the corporation and not the Government to pay the salaries of the employees and wages of the workers. He said that the Government has been giving funds at 10.5% to the corporations following the recommendations of the 3rd finance commission. The 4th Finance Commission has recommended paying 12.5% of the actual pay. The proposal has been accepted by the Legislative assembly, but it has not been certified.

The workers of East and North Delhi started a strike on October 11 and October 16 respectively. The petitioner Rahul Birla sought directions to authorities to ensure that the strike is called off and work is resumed.