Sahara Group Employees Await Salaries: Supreme Court to Hear Case

The Sahara Group has been facing a prolonged financial crisis, with many of its properties on the verge of sale and numerous employees left unpaid for years. The matter has now reached the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear the case in its next session.

Supreme Court Hearing Scheduled
The Supreme Court has agreed to list the interim petitions filed by Sahara Group employees seeking payment of their pending salaries on 17 November. The bench, led by Chief Justice B. R. Gavai, had earlier directed the Centre, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and other stakeholders to respond to a Sahara India Commercial Corporation Limited (SICCL) petition filed on 14 October. In that petition, SICCL sought permission to sell 88 prime properties to Adani Properties Private Limited.

During Friday’s proceedings, lawyers representing the employees requested that their interim petitions also be listed for the hearing on 17 November, citing the fact that many have not received their salaries for several months. The Chief Justice approved the request.

Property Sale and Stakeholder Oversight
The bench, including Justices Suryakant and M. M. Sundresh, directed the Central Finance and Cooperation Ministries to participate in the proceedings. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s submissions were considered, and the court instructed senior advocate Shekhar Nafde to compile detailed information regarding the 88 properties proposed for sale to the Adani Group. The court also sought clarity on whether these properties are disputed and ordered responses from all relevant stakeholders.

Employee Salaries in Focus
The Supreme Court has instructed Sahara Group to verify the claims of employees who have not been paid for several years. A court-appointed amicus curiae will examine the pending salaries and other dues, with the Supreme Court reviewing the findings during the 17 November hearing.

This development underscores the judiciary’s active role in addressing long-standing employee grievances amid the ongoing Sahara Group financial crisis.