The Gujarat High Court today sought the state government's reply on a PIL which claimed that about 40,000 Home Guard jawans have not been paid salary for over three months.
A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi asked the government pleader to obtain information on this from the government.
The PIL will be heard on February 1.
Petitioner K R Koshty said non-payment of salary for more than three months amounted to depriving a person of livelihood.
There are 39,965 Home Guard jawans in Gujarat, he said, adding they help the police in maintaining law and order.
A Home Guard jawan is paid Rs 204 per day with a condition that he must attend the daily parade at least twice a month, Koshty said.
Section 4 of Gujarat Home Guards Act empowers the Commandant General (CG) of Home Guard to call up the jawans for duty in emergencies like riots to assist the police.
"Deprivation of salary for more than three months amounts to deprivation of livelihood. It is not that they are not attending the parade. They are doing their duties as per the order of the CG, but despite that they are not being paid salary every month, which has now continued for three months," the PIL said.
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