Kochi: The service associations under the opposition wing approached the high court against the state government's move to cut six days' payment from the monthly salary of government employees for five months in the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak. The associations of aided school teachers, KSEB and KSRTC staff approached the high court alleging that the action is illegal.

According to the order issued by the government on April 24, payment of six days will be kept aside from the monthly salary of government staff from April to August. Though it is stated the payment will be kept aside, the order has not made it clear when it will be refunded. With this, the keeping aside can be cutting of the payment.

Petition

When payment of six days is cut for five months, one month's salary is lost totally. The central government asked its staff to donate the payment of one day for 12 months. However, those who do not want to donate can refuse to give the amount. There is no such option for the government staff in Kerala, it is noted in the petition.

The associations under the opposition wing stated that the salary cut is forcefully implemented without the consent of the government staff in Kerala. They demanded that the government order should be cancelled as forced salary cut is illegal.