Chandigarh, Jul 23 The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday stayed the alleged diversion of funds from the Punjab Building and Construction Welfare Board to the Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojna scheme, said senior advocate H C Arora.
Arora said the court also issued a notice to the Punjab government on a petition filed by the Ambedkar Workers' Union Punjab.
Under the Mukhya Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana, women from the general category will receive Rs 1,000 per month, while those belonging to the Scheduled Castes will receive Rs 1,500.
Petitioner's counsel Arora said the state government reconstituted the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board on March 17 and the board later decided to provide financial contribution towards the Mukhya Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana.
The petitioner argued that the reconstitution of the board was totally without jurisdiction, as it was set up under the provisions of Section 18 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, which stands merged with the Code on Social Security, 2020, with effect from November 21, 2025.
It was further argued that the board was reconstituted under the repealed provisions contained in Section 18 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, instead of constituting the same by exercising the power conferred on the state government under Section 18 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.
The plea further submitted that thus, the decisions taken by the reconstituted workers welfare board are "illegal and without jurisdiction".
The government's July 2 decision regarding the transfer of financial assistance under the Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana was also assailed by the petitioner not only on the ground that the said decision was taken by board, which itself is void ab initio, but also on the ground that diversion of funds of the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for payment under the scheme is "totally misuse" of the funds.
The petitioner in the plea sought directions to the respondent to refund the money which was transferred to beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana.
