Tea Board has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) for taking over management control of six gardens of G P Goenka-controlled Duncans Industries after a single bench of Calcutta High Court ratified the move by Commerce Ministry.
Tea Board in a notice has said the six gardens in question were Birpara, Gardanga, Lankapara, Tulsipara, Huntapara and Dumchi, all located in West Bengal.
The EoI said interested tea companies, firms and cooperative societies were eligible to bid for the gardens individually.
The notice said the action was justified under Tea Act of 1953 as Duncans had failed to comply with the requirements of timely payment of workers' dues, PF, gratuity, ration and other fringe benefits.
The initial tenure of management control would be for five years, which would be extended to a maximum period of 11 years.
The Duncans' gardens came to spotlight after incidents of workers deaths owing to poor nutrition were reported following which Commerce ministry started a probe and the West Bengal government was asked to submit a report.
Commerce ministry, through Tea Board, announced take-over of the gardens under Tea Act of 1953 which was then challenged by the Duncans management by moving Calcutta High Court. A single bench of the court ratified the move.
