The Supreme Court of India has shown a strong humanitarian stand by directing Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam to pay Rs 20 lakh—originally meant for retired judge Justice AM Sapre—to widows of tea estate workers who are struggling with serious hardships.
This order was issued on April 23, 2025, by a bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan. The Court appreciated the noble gesture of Justice Sapre, who refused the remuneration offered to him for his work in helping disburse dues to tea workers.
“Justice AM Sapre has expressed his inability to accept the amount as directed by this Court considering the cause involved. We really appreciate this gesture… We honour his sentiments,” the Supreme Court stated.
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The Court instructed the three states—Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam—to work with Amicus Curiae Gaurav Agarwal and identify the most deserving cases, especially widows facing severe financial hardship.
Earlier on April 17, the Court had ordered the states to pay Rs 5 lakh each to Justice Sapre for his contribution. It was his efforts that led to thousands of tea workers finally receiving long-overdue wages.
However, on April 23, Senior Advocate Agarwal informed the Court that Justice Sapre wished the amount to go to the families in need. He highlighted that in states like Assam and Kerala, where dues had been calculated, this money could make a significant difference in the lives of widows—especially those with young daughters or no support.
Justice Oka observed, “Some gross cases could be identified where the hardship is very real and immediate.”
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The Court also clarified that once the report for West Bengal is ready, the same direction will apply there too.
This order is part of a long legal battle for tea workers' rights. In 2006, the International Union of Food and Agricultural Workers had moved the Supreme Court for pending payments. Although the Court had directed payment in 2010, enforcement remained weak, leading to a contempt petition in 2012.
In 2020, the Court asked four states to pay Rs 127 crores as interim relief. Justice Sapre was appointed as a one-person committee, and he found that over Rs 414 crores were due to workers and over Rs 230 crores to the Provident Fund.
In 2023, the Court ordered a total payment of Rs 645 crores to 28,556 workers from 25 tea gardens.
Later in December 2024, the Assam government assured the Court that it would pay the remaining Rs 70 crores to workers in 15 state-managed tea estates.
Case Title: International Union of Food Agricultural & Ors v. Union of India
Case No.: Contempt Petition (C) No. 16/2012
