Sri Vijaya Puram | February 25, 2026
In a significant development for thousands of daily rated mazdoors (DRMs) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court at Port Blair has directed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, to accord approval to the 2023 scheme submitted by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration for their regularisation.
The order was passed on February 19, 2026, in the case ASNVMS vs Union of India & Others. The writ petition had been filed by the Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh (ASNVMS), affiliated to CITU, following directions of the Supreme Court.
The matter stems from prolonged litigation dating back to 2018, when the union approached the High Court seeking grant of 1/30th of pay plus Dearness Allowance (DA) to remaining DRMs and formulation of a scheme for regularisation of their services. On December 13, 2019, the High Court directed the Administration to extend the 1/30th pay plus DA benefit to all DRMs and consider regularisation.
The Administration challenged the order before the Calcutta High Court in MA No. 9 of 2020. While hearing the appeal, the Division Bench upheld the direction to grant 1/30th of pay plus DA and also instructed the Administration to frame a regularisation scheme.
Alleging non-compliance of the court’s directions, ASNVMS filed a contempt petition. On August 3, 2023, the High Court imposed a penalty of ₹5 lakh on the Lt Governor and ordered suspension of the then Chief Secretary. The Lt Governor and the Chief Secretary subsequently moved the Supreme Court challenging the penalty and suspension order.
Following the contempt proceedings, the Administration issued orders granting the financial benefit of 1/30th of pay plus DA to DRMs working across various departments, including the APWD. A regularisation scheme was also formulated and forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, the proposal was rejected in December 2023.
With the latest order of February 19, 2026, directing the DoPT to approve the 2023 scheme, thousands of daily rated workers are expected to benefit if the process moves forward.
CITU and its affiliated union ASNVMS have been spearheading agitations, including strikes, for several years demanding financial benefits and regularisation of services for DRMs. The unions also pursued legal remedies after their demands were not accepted by the Administration and the Government of India.
Advocate Gopala Binnu Kumar of Port Blair has been representing ASNVMS and CITU before the High Court and the Supreme Court.
According to a press release issued by the union, CITU has congratulated the daily rated workers who supported the movement and described the court’s order as a major step forward in securing their long-pending demands.
