Today, On 14th November, The Supreme Court agreed to hear interim pleas from Sahara Group employees on November 17 seeking release of their overdue salaries. On the same day, the Court will also take up SICCL’s request to sell 88 prime properties to Adani Properties.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear interim pleas from employees of Sahara Group companies requesting payment of their overdue salaries on November 17.
Earlier, On October 14, a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai had asked for responses from the Centre, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and other stakeholders regarding a plea from Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd. (SICCL), which seeks permission to sell 88 prime properties to Adani Properties Private Limited.
This SICCL plea is already scheduled for the same hearing date.
During Friday’s proceedings, the CJI was prompted by lawyers to also list the interim pleas from employees on Monday, highlighting that they had gone months without receiving salaries.
CJI Gavai responded,
“Ok. They will be listed,”
Earlier, the bench, which included Justices Surya Kant and M M Sundresh, discussed an interlocutory application (IA) from SICCL related to the long-standing matter concerning the Sahara Group’s refund obligations.
The bench noted submissions from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and ordered that the Union ministries of finance and cooperation be included as parties to the ongoing proceedings, requiring their responses by November 17.
The bench assigned amicus curiae and senior advocate Shekhar Naphade to gather information on the 88 properties that SICCL plans to sell to the Adani Group.
It instructed the amicus curiae to also review the responses from other stakeholders concerning these properties and provide details on their status, including whether they are unencumbered or disputed.
The bench emphasized that it would determine whether the properties should be sold individually or as a single group.
Moreover, it directed the Sahara Group to evaluate the claims of employees who have not received their salaries for several years. The court also tasked the amicus curiae with looking into the issue of salaries and arrears for the employees, indicating that it would address this matter during the next hearing.
All pleas, including the intervention application and the request from the Sahara firm, are set for consideration on November 17.