The Himachal Pradesh High Court has mandated that the Education Department compensate approximately 18 thousand mid-day meal workers employed in government schools with two months' worth of holiday salary.

The Mid-Day Meal Workers Union filed a petition in the High Court advocating for the payment of salaries for the entire year, as the state government previously only provided 10 months' salary to mid-day meal workers.

Dismissing the argument, the court pointed out that if the state government has the capability to raise the salary of these workers independently, there should be no reason why they cannot ensure payment for the entire year.

The petition alleged discrimination by the Education Department against the applicant association, highlighting that non-teaching employees within the department receive salaries for the entire year, while mid-day meal workers are only provided with 10 months' salary.

The High Court emphasized that the Education Department is not permitted to discriminate against mid-day meal workers.

Referring to a Supreme Court decision, the High Court stated that mid-day meal workers are entitled to 12 months' salary rather than the previously provided 10 months.

The court underscored that the Education Department's provision of significant annual sums to teachers and non-teaching staff in schools renders discrimination against mid-day meal workers unjustifiable.