The Supreme Court today dismissed the plea of newspaper managements seeking review of its judgment directing them to implement the recommendations of Majithia Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists on their pay structure.

“We have carefully gone through the review petitions and the connected papers. We find no merit in the review petitions and the same are accordingly dismissed,” a Bench comprising Chief Justice, P Sathasivam and Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Shiva Kirti Singh said in the order after chamber proceedings.

Earlier in the day, the court also rejected the plea of senior advocate KK Venugopal, appearing for some newspaper managements, that till their petitions challenging the validity of the Supreme Court Rule providing for chamber proceedings for deciding on review petitions are heard it should hear the present review petition in the open court.

However, a Bench comprising Chief Justice P Sathasivam and justices Ranjan Gogoi and N V Ramana said it cannot entertain the plea.

Referring to the February 7 verdict, which had upheld the Wage Board recommendations, the CJI said “we heard the matter for six weeks and we gave you enough opportunity.”

“That judgment was passed by a different Bench and so we cannot entertain your oral request,” he said.

On the issue of writ petitions challenging the apex court rule on review petition, the Bench said “we are aware of it.

“We cannot stop the listing of review petitions during the pendency of writ petitions”.

The Bench, on February 7, had upheld the recommendations of Majithia Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists on their pay structure and had directed that the revised salaries be granted to the employees.

It had said that the revised pay structure be given to the employees from November 11, 2011 when the Centre notified the recommendations of the Board.

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