HC asks govt to apprise it of steps for tea workers

The Calcutta High Court today directed the West Bengal government to apprise it of the steps taken for welfare of closed tea garden workers in north Bengal.

Alleging starvation deaths in closed tea gardens in the Dooars in north Bengal, a resident of the area had moved a PIL before the division bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi.

The petitioner prayed for steps by the state government to ensure food, medical facilities, shelter and education for the workers and the families of closed tea gardens.

The bench directed the state government to file an affidavit by January 11 in which it would apprise the court of the steps it has taken.

The matter would come up before the court again on January 15, 2016.