New Delhi: The Supreme Court today asked
the employees of ailing shopping co-operative Super Bazar to
work with the new management of Dainik Bhaskar Group which
has emerged as the highest bidder to bail out the shopping
chain.
A bench comprising Justice S H Kapadia and Justice
Swatantra Kumar said the court wanted the employees to work
and not to waste their time in court rooms.
"Contempt is no solution at this point of time. We do
not want workmen to waste their time in courts ... This is not
going to happen," the court said adding there was no contempt
at this point of time.
The bench said "today if the financers say that they
are not interested, then nothing would be left."
The Court`s remarks came on a contempt petition filed
by Super Bazar Karamchari Hiteshi Sangthan. According to
it, Writers and Publishers Ltd (the Dainik Bhaskar Group) was
to deposit Rs 54.31 crore so that the liquidator could pay off
the creditors as well as dues of local authorities from the
deposited money and it was not done.
During the proceeding, senior advocate Harish Salve,
appearing for the Bhaskar group, said money was ready
and it was not a problem.
"Money is there ... it`s not a problem. Our concern is
administration and surveillance while dealing with the
workmen. Statutory diligence is to be done," he said adding
workers coming to all of its 154 branches are sitting
as no goods are being purchased for the shops.
-PTI
